Teen who wanted to be Chicago firefighter becomes milestone gift for Make-A-Wish Illinois

– The Make-A-Wish Foundation celebrated a major milestone in granting a dream come true for a teenager who wanted to be a Chicago firefighter.

Fire response and evacuations

For most people, a fire house is a place they only see from the outside.

But Kayleigh Carpenter, 17, got a chance to become a firefighter for a day thanks to Make-A-Wish Illinois and the Chicago Fire Department, who arrived at her Avalon Park home first thing in the morning.

"She was very excited, especially when we were at the house and she saw the fire truck come around the corner.

Her eyes got really big and she was surprised," mother Rashonda Hunt said.

Firefighters gave Carpenter a demonstration of how some of the equipment works, then outfitted her with a uniform.

She was then able to see what it's like putting out a fire.

Carpenter, who has cerebral palsy and epilepsy and has faced significant medical challenges, has always been drawn to first responders.