Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Its Amazing How Wonderful People Can Be

So I am at work and reading my e-mail and came across this story and read it and almost started to cry, luckly I was at work so I held back the tears.

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 favor? 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.


See I told you that it is sad and would make you want to cry. I hope that we never give up on any of our dreams.

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