From saving a trapped Santa from the Ferris wheel at National Harbor to freeing D.C. sports mascots from bondage, 5-year-old Kaheem Philbert of Owings Mills was a superhero for a day last week — and the world was watching.

Kaheem, who suffers from chronic myeloid leukemia, became the superhero of his dreams thanks to Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic, which grants wishes to children ages 21/2 to 18 with life-threatening medical conditions.

His first stop during his Dec. 16 mission was at the National Harbor to save Santa from the Capital Wheel. Next, he took a D.C. fire boat to visit the Capitol, where he received a message from House Speaker Paul Ryan about a missing flag. Kaheem later found the flag, which had been flown over the Capitol in his honor.

After some pizza and a nap, a clue led him to the National Theatre, where he caught a Grinch who was stealing presents. Kaheem later headed to the Newseum by firetruck to save four Washington sports mascots who were tied up on the museum's balcony.

Kaheem Philbert and his family could not be reached for comment by The Baltimore Sun.

—Brittany Britto