An act of kindness by two Halifax police officers has boosted the spirits of a six-year-old boy recovering from surgery at the IWK Health Centre in Halifax.

Jackson Chase was born with a bilateral clef palate and had to have surgery to take a bone from his hip and put into his palate.

"He was in a lot of pain. We couldn't get him to eat or take his meds. His face was swollen and he was just exhausted and just wanted to go home,” says Jackson’s mother, Natasha Chase. “He was crying. He wasn't himself at all. All he wanted was these little action figures to play with."

Jackson’s grandmother went out to find the closest place to get the superheroes. Not being from the area, she approached a couple men sitting in a car.

The family says they found local heroes instead - two plain-clothes police officers - both proud fathers who were quick to help.

Const. Brad Murray and Const. Adam Cole went to Jackson's bedside with the order more than filled.

"He was happy and made you feel good. I just know when I go home, I’m pretty blessed with what I have,” says Murray.

"It’s actually pretty cool because most times we're dealing with people in crisis or not exactly in the best mood, so it’s nice to pick up somebody's mood up," says Cole.

The act of kindness turned things around for Jackson.

“It was like he did a 180°. He was in such a better mood. It was awesome,” says Chase.

Jackson was released from hospital, with a story of kindness to tell back home in Fredericton.

With files from CTV Atlantic’s Marie Adsett.