BAKER COUNTY, Fla. – A dream came true for a local boy with a rare disease after he was named honorary sheriff in Baker County.
Gage Spurlock, 6, is being treated for osteogenesis imperfecta, better known as brittle bone disease.
His father told News4Jax that he spends much of his time at Wolfson Children’s Hospital getting weekly treatments and has suffered multiple bone fractures, even before being born.
“We were told prior to him being born that he would never live, that once he was born, he would die because of his condition, and here he is going on 7 years old this September, and he's what we call our miracle,” said Mike Spurloc.
Gage's ultimate dream was to be a police officer. And with the help of his teachers and the Baker County Sheriff's Office , they held an election at Baker County Elementary School and voted him sheriff.
"What a great day it is for all of us to come and see you to be able to take this opportunity to become, I think, one of the most important people in Baker County," said Sheriff Joey Dobson. I am so proud to be here today to give you an honor that, like I said, only one person has had before and that's Sam Kouvaris on Channel 4.”
His entire school setup voting booths and had an all-out election. With more than 430 votes, Gage earned his badge fair and square.
“Since the beginning of the year that he wanted to be a sheriff, and the school really did make it an awesome opportunity for him, making his dream come true,” his teacher, Jenna Smith said. "He's just like every other kid. He's funny. He's hilarious. All the kids in our class think he's exactly like them.”
For Gage's first order of business, he had his appointed deputies arrest his own teacher.
She was later released on bond. But something no one could pay for was the priceless feeling of making this little boy's dream come true.
Gage is a patient at Wolfson Children’s Hospital, and his story has been shared with Dreams Come True and the Children's Miracle Network.