COLUMBIA, S.C. — Among the dozens of graduates from the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy was a seven-year-old who became the youngest Richland County sheriff's deputy.
"I really want to be a police officer when I grow up," Jack Timmerman said after attending the academy's graduation.
Jack's excitement left him grinning from ear to ear Friday morning after walking across the stage to receive a badge as an honorary deputy from Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott.
"He wants to be a deputy sheriff, and I think that speaks volumes of the young people we've got. Not just Jack but the rest of his generation that's ready to take the torch and run with it," Sheriff Lott said.
Running with it is exactly what the seven-year-old is doing, according to his parents, Jaime and Ned Timmerman.
"Just the emotion of him being able to fulfill his dream," Ned said. "We are all wearing our 'We do hard things' shirt. When we first had Jack, and he was just a little baby, this was something we started to say right away. We do hard things. We thought it would be brushing your teeth, going to bed on time, eating your vegetables."
But that thought changed last summer after Jack was diagnosed with Batten's disease.
"What Batten is is a genetic disorder with no treatment or cure," Ned explained.
The disease attacks the vision first, something Jack is already struggling with.
"As you may have noticed today, he is almost completely blind. It then progresses to other neurological functions, so we expect seizures, loss of mobility, and ultimately dementia," said Ned.
For now, the family is enjoying special moments like today's graduation.
"Living in the moment and enjoying each second we have with him, like this. Today is going to be one of those days we just get to remember forever," Jaime said with tears in her eyes.