Garry Mitchem has always dreamed of becoming a firefighter for Baldwin County.
He wants to follow in his father's boots as he served Dekalb County for decades.
Mitchem, 18, isn't going to let Prader- Willi Syndrome get in his way. When the department gets a call, he told WMAZ he posts it online to let residents know.
Although he's forthright about his rare condition and limitations, he is involved with the Explorer Program to learn more about what firefighters do.
Recently, his mother asked for people to send him birthday cards.
But, firefighters stepped up to the plate to do so much more. They held a surprise party of their biggest fans.
Garry told the reporters he'd never been in a fire truck before, but he says now he feels just like one of the firefighters.
"You know, I honestly thought I didn't have any friends. You know, when I found out I really did have friends. I didn't call them friends, I call them family. It just hits this heart right here," he said.
