Emergency Service workers have a tough job. Firefighters, Police Officers, Emergency Medics put their life on the line each day to protect their communities and help those in need. Each time a call comes in, they answer it, not knowing what awaits them when they arrive on scene.  

Sometimes the calls are happy, such as the safe delivery of a baby. Other times, the calls take workers to the scene of a fatal car accident.

For Officer Brandon Fleming of the South Hill Police Department in Virginia, the call he received was a devastating one. While he didn't disclose the details of the event due to privacy restrictions, he calls it "heartbreaking" in an Instagram post.

"While finishing up assisting with a heartbreaking call the other day I found myself sadly walking to my car alone in my thoughts," the officer wrote.

Just minutes later, his whole day was turned around thanks to one little girl.

Officer Fleming heard a little voice say: "Hi Mr. Officer!"

When he turned, he saw a little girl walking with her mother. She was clearly happy to see him, even thought she'd never met him before.

"I was taken aback by her joyful nature and I attempt to greet her with as much jubilation as she did with me," the officer wrote. "I asked how she was and she informed me that she was great that day and that it was her birthday."

The 4-year-old girl, whose name was Neriah, asked the officer for an unexpected birthday present.

"Can I have a hug for my birthday?"

After a stressful day, Officer Fleming's heart melted from the simple request. He gave her a big hug.

"My day, my week, my choice of profession was made," the grateful officer wrote on Instagram.

Go to the next page for more of this heartwarming story!

Little Neriah asked the officer if he had a sticker badge she could have, but he couldn't find one anywhere in his police cruiser. Determined to thank the joyful girl who'd turned his day around, he asked for her address so he could drop off a birthday present later on.

He was surprised when "little Miss Neriah told me her own address and spelled out her name for me to write down."

He visited her house several times, but no one was home. Finally, he found her and brought her some Reese's candy, a giant coloring book, and markers.  

Neriah and her mother were overjoyed and posted adorable photos and a video of the uniformed officer and his cute companion on Facebook.

"Yesterday was truly a blessing! We can't thank Officer Fleming enough for keeping his promise to my babygirl ❤️I had no idea how his day was going, & to know that my baby inspired him & turned his day around...just goes to show we might just be doing something right with her after all 😊Thank you so much for taking time out of your day to make my baby's day, you are truly one of a kind 💙," Neriah's mother wrote on Facebook.

We should never forget our Police Officers and Emergency crews who do an amazing job. While some days can feel thankless and depressing for them, Neriah proves that the smallest amount of appreciation can go a long way.

Officer Fleming wrote: "This right here people is why I do the job I do. For MY community. For EVERYONE'S children. For the betterment of US all."

He went on to say: "If someone so small can show such a great deal of love and compassion to me, a complete stranger, then why can't we all do the same for one another?"

He also thanked the little girl for her happy and joyful attitude.

"Thank you Neriah....For lifting the veil of clouds and showing me the true nature of things, For giving me hope that all is not lost in this world, For allowing me to be loved and cared for by my community, For showing your bright spirit to me, and for making me just happy."

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