Dressed as a police officer, Mehak Singh spent hours at the Bhoiwada Police Station. (Press Trust of India photo)
Mehak Singh, just seven years old, wants to grow up and become a police officer to protect the country. The little girl, however, is battling stage four bone cancer, with only a 10 to 15 per cent survival chance, according to doctors.
So, the Mumbai Police along with Make-a-Wish Foundation, an NGO that grants wishes of children with life threatening medical conditions, got together to fulfill Mehek's wish.
Dressed up as a police officer, the spirited and smiling child spent hours at Mumbai's Bhoiwada Police Station on Friday, saluting and interacting with policemen.
"It's my wish to become a police officer and protect my country", the seven year old said.
The police too, are touched by the urge.
"She says she wants to protect the country. She wants to work for the benefit of society. It was her wish to wear the uniform so we fulfilled it", Senior Police Inspector Sunil Tondwalkar said.
While doctors say 70 per cent of all children with cancer can be cured, Mehak is battling the last stage of cancer, and has only 10 to 15 per cent survival chances.
"We have seen that when children's wishes are fulfilled, their satisfaction increases and they get a boost to fight. This gives their body strength and also helps treatment to some extent", said Dr Sridhar of Tata Memorial Hospital, who has been treating Mehak.
Doctors say, in their experience, most children want to be celebrities and actors but Mehak's wish was unique and something they just couldn't turn down.