Emanuel Helps Grant Boy’s Wish to Become Garbage Man, Ring Cancer Bell

Emanuel Medical Center was proud to help grant a local’s boy wish of becoming a garbage man and ringing the cancer bell as part of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

When he was just three years old, Carter was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. He noticed the limitations that his illness had on his childhood not being able to participate in normal childhood activities that would risk his immune system. Carter stayed positive through it all and ultimately completed chemotherapy in 2020.

Carter, now 7, has always been fascinated with garbage trucks. On Monday, November 7, 2022, he had his wish granted of becoming a garbage man, making his way around various locations in Turlock to collect garbage.

During his stop at Emanuel Cancer Center, Carter had something extra special to check off his list. When carter completed his chemo treatments in 2020, he was unable to ring the celebratory cancer bell at that time due to COVID-19 restrictions. The team at Emanuel made that happen for Carter and he was finally able to ring the bell. Nurses, physicians and staff gathered to cheer on Carter with signs and noise makers.

“The team is just so focused on making sure they take care of the entire family because it really takes that family to heal from something like cancer,” Dr. Murali Naidu, CEO of Emanuel Medical Center, told the Turlock Journal. “And so that’s why events like this are special, because it’s about what everybody needs and, certainly, the individual who has cancer having the opportunity to celebrate with that support network is just as important.”

Other stops on Carter’s route included the Turlock Chamber of Commerce and City Hall.