Minneapolis Hospice Patient Spends Last Days On Police Ride-Alongs
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) - Minneapolis Police are helping grant the wish of a veteran who just entered hospice care.
Sixty-eight-year-old Gary Madison was diagnosed with cancer nearly three years ago. He decided there were a few things he wanted to do before the terminal cancer took his life. A police ride-along was on the list.
"I figure there's a lot going on in Minneapolis," Madison said. "I could learn a lot about what police do."
Riding along with a Minneapolis police officer is something Madison has had on his mind for a long time.
"I like to do interesting things," Madison said.
The Air Force veteran was interested in becoming a police officer after he left the service, but it wasn't in the cards. It took a diagnosis of gastrointestinal cancer to make Madison think about the things he never did but always wanted to do.
"I had the cancer," Madison said. "They told me it was a kind that radiation and chemo didn't work on."
Since his diagnosis, he started using a walking stick, and he said his health is on the decline.
"There wasn't much else they could do, so now they got me on hospice, and I'll be now on hospice until whenever the time comes," Madison said. "I want to do as much as I can in the meantime."
Sgt. Ryan Johnson lost his own dad to cancer a few years ago. He volunteered to show Madison the ropes.
"I've been touched by somebody who's known cancer, in fact, several people, and it was my honor and pleasure to bring him for a little tour of Minneapolis," Johnson said.
Madison got a taste of what it means to walk the beat. It's an experience he'll carry with him.
"That's one thing I've always wanted was an interesting life, and that I've had," Madison said.
Madison also rode with Robbinsdale and Golden Valley police departments. Friday, on his birthday, he'll ride-along with New Hope. The other things on his list: Go up in a hot air balloon and go on a cruise, both of which he's done.
