Christmas

Chino Valley Firefighter Bonds With Boy Fighting Cancer

Their bond grew so strong that when Vincent starting losing his hair due to chemotherapy, Stocking decided to shave his head too.

A Chino Valley firefighter/paramedic bonds with a young boy who is fighting cancer, visiting him regularly in the hospital.

Now three years later, they are still the best of buddies and 9-year-old Vincent Dominguez is realizing his dream of being an official Junior Firefighter.

"He's just a good friend. He feels like a family member."

Vincent thinks the world of his friend Shane Stocking, a Chino Valley firefighter/paramedic, and the feeling is mutual.

"I love the kid," Stocking said. "He's like a little brother to me."

Stocking met Vincent three years ago on a fire drill.

"We noticed him with a mask on," Stocking said. "Obviously he was facing ailments."

Even though Vincent was battling neuroblastoma, a type of childhood cancer, he never let it get him down.

"I'd run over and give him a hug."

It was something Stocking found out when he went to the children's hospital for visits.

You could show up at the hospital and he would have IV's hanging out of him, medication going and he was smiling," Stocking said.

The two developed an inseparable bond. When Vincent lost his hair due to chemotherapy, Stocking shaved his head.

Now three years later, Vincent is on the road to recovery.

And he likes nothing better than spending time at the firehouse lifting weights, rolling up the fire hose and learning everything it takes to be a firefighter/paramedic, enough to become an official chino valley junior firefighter.

"He shows up at any one of our community events on his own accord with his mother and people love him."

He organizes toy drives.

"At Christmastime we donate toys to the hospital," Stocking said. "And whose idea was that? Mine!"

He's done so many charitable acts as a junior firefighter that he was given an award.

"It's for community service and it was given to me by the firefighters," Vincent said.

It's what he wants to do when he grows up.

"I hope that one day I'm still on this fire truck behind me and I hope Vincent is sitting next to me," Stocking said. "It would make my day."

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