I spent last night in the sweltering basement of a local elementary school. And I could not have been happier.

I haven’t lost my mind. I haven’t lost my faith, either. Thanks in no small part to a kid named Tommy Geromichalos.

I spent the night in the basement of St. Cyril of Alexandria School in East Lansdowne, where they were holding the graduation ceremony for the school's Class of 2008. It’s something a lot of people did not expect to happen.

I wanted to see with my own two eyes that wishes do come true.

Readers of this newspaper no doubt are familiar with what I’m talking about, the saga of young Mr. Geromichalos and his special “wish.” A few years ago, Tommy, who suffers from cystic fibrosis, wrote a letter to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. They’re the folks who grant the desires of ailing youngsters.

Tommy’s wish was more along the lines of a miracle. He didn’t want to go to Disney World, or meet a movie star or world-class athlete.

Tommy simply wanted his school to remain open so he could graduate with his class. Not even the folks at Make-A-Wish had the power to grant this wish. That’s when the miracle occurred.

Our columnist, Gil Spencer, wrote a piece about Tommy’s wish, and we published the entire text of his letter. What happened next was nothing short of miraculous. A community found its soul, and took it upon itself to raise the money to save St. Cyril’s.

That’s why I had to be there last night. A lot of what I do for a living leaves you questioning your beliefs and your faith.

It’s not that I was a “Doubting Thomas,” or even that I was doubting Thomas Geromichalos, but I still wanted to see it with my own eyes.

Tommy’s “wish” was indeed granted. And maybe best of all, it’s the story that keeps on giving. A foundation called BLOCS is putting together a plan that will keep the school, and several others that are also facing an uphill struggle, open for years to come.

I had the chance to meet many of the people at the school, including the school’s Administrative Assistant Mary Lou Love, Tommy’s teacher Jean Cashwell-Willert, the principal Sister Barbara Montague, and pastor the Rev. Edward Kearns.

All of them had nice things to say about the newspaper and our role in the story.

But this night really belonged to Tommy and the rest of the Class of 2008. They are in fact a miracle.

I asked everyone I met last night if they actually thought this night was ever coming to come. Most of them kind of sheepishly admitted they weren’t sure.

Looks like Tommy’s wasn’t the only wish that came true.