4-Year-Old with Cystic Fibrosis Becomes Garbage Truck Driver for a Day

A 4-year-old boy with cystic fibrosis got to live out his dream of being a garbage truck driver for a day thanks to Make-A-Wish.

Every week, Alan, who hails from Ashland, Mass., stays on the lookout for garbage collectors working in his neighborhood and he loves them so much that he’s even dressed up as one for Halloween, according to Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

But on July 10, he didn’t just get to wear the uniform, he actually got a chance to be an honorary crew member.

Much like real trash collectors, Alan’s day began early, according to CW affiliate WHDH.

“He said he was a little tired when he first started,” Richard Birch, one of the Waste Management drivers, told the outlet. “I’m like, ‘Well, trash men start very early in the morning, so you’re going to be tired.’ ” 

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After that he actually got to clock in with a special timecard and learned the ropes about what it takes to be a garbage collector, Make-A-Wish tells PEOPLE. From there, he got a special send-off from the rest of the Waste Management drivers as he left alongside another driver in a garbage truck.

Alan even had the opportunity to work the trash compactor as he drove along his route and got to collect the bins specially laid out for him.

Finally, the 4-year-old was greeted by a crowd of community members, who thanked the youngster for all his work keeping the neighborhood clean.

“Just coming around the corner to see how many people were here, that moment will definitely stick in my mind,” his mom Lola said, according to ABC affiliate WCVB-TV.

One factor that made the day even more special was that Alan’s little brother Theo, who also has cystic fibrosis, got to tag along for the fun-filled day too.

According to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, the genetic disorder causes thick mucus to accumulate on a person’s organs like the lungs and pancreas and affects 40,000 children and adults across the U.S. 

As Alan played with a toy WM truck of his own, which he was given as a keepsake from his shift, his mom addressed the crowd who gathered to support her son.

“I just wanted to say a word of thanks to everyone involved,” she said. “It’s just been amazing just to take a day to not think about anything and celebrate Alan.”