Am I A Fireman Yet??
In Phoenix , Arizona ,
a 26-year-old mother
stared down at her 6
year old son, who was
dying of terminal
leukemia.
Although her heart was
filled with sadness, she
also had a strong feeling
of determination.
Like any parent, she
wanted her son to grow
up & fulfill all his dreams.
Now that was no longer possible.
The leukemia would see
to that.
But she still wanted her son's dream to come true.
She took her son's hand
and asked, 'Billy, did you ever think about what you wanted to be once you
grew up?
Did you ever dream and
wish what you would do
with your life?'
Mommy, 'I always wanted
to be a fireman when I
grew up.'
Mom smiled back and
said, 'Let's see if we
can make your wish
come true.'
Later that day she went
to her local fire Department in Phoenix , Arizona ,
where she met Fireman
Bob, who had a heart as
big as Phoenix ..
She explained her son's
final wish and Asked if it might be possible to give
her 6 year-old son a ride around the block on a fire engine.
Fireman Bob said, 'Look,
we can do better than that.
If you'll have your son
ready at seven o'clock Wednesday morning,
we'll make him an
honorary Fireman for the whole day.
He can come down to
the fire station, eat with
us, go out on all the fire
calls, the whole nine
yards!
And if you'll give us his
sizes, we'll get a real
fire uniform for him, with
a real fire hat - not a toy --
one-with the emblem of
the Phoenix Fire
Department on it,
a yellow slicker like we
wear and rubber boots.'
'They're all manufactured right here in Phoenix , so
we can get them fast.'
Three days later Fireman Bob picked up Billy,
dressed him in his uniform and escorted him from his hospital bed to the waiting hook and ladder truck.
Billy got to sit on the back
of the truck and help steer
it back to the fire station.
He was in heaven.
There were three fire calls
in Phoenix that day and
Billy got to go out on
all three calls.
He rode in the different
fire engines, the
Paramedic's' van, and
even the fire chief's car.
He was also videotaped
for the local news
program.
Having his dream come
true, with all the love
and attention that was lavished upon him, so
deeply touched Billy,
that he lived three
months longer than
any doctor thought
possible.
One night all of his
vital signs began to
drop dramatically and
the head nurse, who
believed in the hospice concept - that no one
should die alone, began
to call the family members
to the hospital.
Then she remembered
the day Billy had spent
as a Fireman, so she
called the Fire Chief and asked if it would
be possible to send a
fireman in uniform to
the hospital to be with
Billy as he made his transition.
The chief replied, 'We
can do better than that.
We'll be there in five
minutes.
Will you please do
me a favour?
When you hear the
sirens screaming and
see the lights flashing,
will you announce over
the PA system that there
is not a fire?'
'It's the department
coming to see one of
its finest members one
more time.
And will you open the window to his room?'
About five minutes later
a hook and ladder truck arrived at the hospital
and extended its ladder
up to Billy's third floor
open window--------
16 fire-fighters
climbed up the ladder
into Billy's room.
With his mother's permission, they hugged
him and held him and
told him how much they LOVED him.
With his dying breath,
Billy looked up at the fire chief and said,
'Chief, am I really a
fireman now?'
'Billy, you are, and the
Head Chief,
Jesus, is holding your
hand,' the chief said
With those words,
Billy smiled and said,
'I know, He's been
holding my hand all day,
and
The angels have been singing..'
He closed his eyes
one last time.
