A 7-year-old girl, a cancer diagnosis and a last wish in SF just missed

Karma, 7, and the gifts she received from San Francisco Police Department Inspector John Keane. Karma passed away on Tuesday after battling cancer for several years, Keane said. Karma, 7, and the gifts she received from San Francisco Police Department Inspector John Keane. Karma passed away on Tuesday after battling cancer for several years, Keane said. Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close A 7-year-old girl, a cancer diagnosis and a last wish in SF just missed 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

Her resume was formidable: Deputy, Houston County Sheriff’s Office, Georgia. Deputy, Twiggs County Sheriff’s Office, Georgia. Officer, New York City Police Department.

Even before finishing elementary school, Karma Little, a 7-year-old Georgia native who dreamed of becoming a police officer, garnered honorary ranks from law enforcement agencies across the country.

The San Francisco Police Department was next.

Karma’s neuroblastoma, a high-risk cancer running through her system, had reached stage 4, but she and her family arrived this week in Belmont, where they have close friends. They were determined to visit the SFPD.

They scheduled a trip to the Mission Bay headquarters for Thursday. Two days before the big swearing-in ceremony, Inspector John Keane drove down to Belmont with a custom-size uniform shirt and a star for the girl.

But Karma had died earlier Tuesday, Keane said, ending a battle with cancer that began when she was 3.

“She basically died in her parents’ arms,” Keane said Wednesday.

Will and Jennifer Little had spent years traveling across the country, consulting doctors and shuttling Karma to chemotherapy, all while making time for the visits to law enforcement agencies that their daughter loved.

In 2014, they started a Facebook page, “Believe in Karmiracles,” that attracted more than 4,500 followers. A year ago, they reached out to Keane, a 26-year veteran of the San Francisco force, and he began sending trinkets to Karma.

There were tactical badges, a Golden State Warriors hat and a birthday photo from the SWAT team that read, “Happy birthday Karma Lilly from the SFPD SWAT team. Stay strong & keep up the good fight.”

“We’re always willing to help people,” Keane said. “Their request was fairly simple.”

Karma was supposed to meet Chief Bill Scott on Thursday, see the horses from the mounted unit and check out the building that houses tactical units. Instead, Keane will escort Karma’s parents and her brother, William, to the airport, where they’ll take a flight back to Georgia with her body.

Jenna Lyons is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jlyons@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JennaJourno

How to help

Karma Little’s family faces bills for medical expenses and funeral arrangements. To make an online donation, go to https://www.gofundme.com/littlekarmiracles.