The question daunts most children, but Nicholas Wilder knew immediately what the Make-A-Wish Foundation could do for him.
Make him a firefighter.
The 15-year-old from Ramseur, diagnosed with large cell lymphoma last September, got his wish Wednesday when a Charlotte Fire Department truck took him to Charlotte/Douglas International Airport for a 10-day trip to New York City.
There, he will go through the city's firefighter training camp, be sworn in as a firefighter, visit ground zero and meet several of the men who worked the site of the terrorist attacks nearly three years ago.
"He's always wanted to be a firefighter since he was little," said Amy Laws, wish director for the foundation's central and Western North Carolina office. "He was just inspired by the events of Sept. 11."
The first-time flier was allowed to sit in the pilot's seat and program the flight path to New York, Laws said.
Nicholas is one of the 155 children whose wishes are being fulfilled by the Celebration of Hope. More than $1 million was raised by the community after Hope Stout, 12, of Weddington, told foundation officials in December her wish was to grant those of other terminally ill children. Hope died Jan. 4.
More than 80 wishes have been granted so far. Laws hopes to complete all the wishes by the end of August.
