McLean Firefighter's Son Supported In Cancer Battle

MCLEAN, VA—For firefighters, the men and women they work with and their relatives are like family. When one firefighter is undergoing a hardship, the entire team is there for support. That's why firefighters and medics around Fairfax County are rallying around a McLean firefighter, whose son was diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer.

Connor Long, the 1-year-old son of Assistant Chief Kevin Long of the McLean Volunteer Fire Department, recently was diagnosed. Last week, he had surgery "and came through with flying colors," said the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department in a Facebook post.

To honor Connor and his courageous fight, volunteer fire and units around the county added an accountability tag for him as they went on calls over the weekend. The tag, which typically identify members of the responding unit, had a special tag reading, "Connor Long and #ConnorStrong."

The Vienna Volunteer Fire Department wrote in the post that the tag symbolized Connor being in their thoughts as an honorary member as they responded to emergencies.

"The Long family has a long road ahead of them, but the entire combination system within the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department is standing behind them," stated the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department.

Images via Vienna Volunteer Fire Department