DenCat
12-08-2007, 09:05 AM
In Phoenix AZ, a 26 year old mother stared down at her 6 year old son, who was dying of leukemia. Although her heart was filled with sadness, she had a strong feeling of determination. Like any parent, she wanted her son to grow up and fulfill all his dreams. Now that was no longer possible . The leukemia would see to that. But she still wanted her son’s dreams 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?” Billy said “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 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 giver her son a ride around the block on a fire engine. Fireman Bob said, “Look, we can do better than that. If you’ll have you son ready at 7 am on Wednesday, we’ll make him an honorary fireman for the whole day. He can come down to the firehouse, eat with us, go out on calls, the whole nine yards. And if you get us his sizes, we’ll get a real fire uniform for him with a real fire hat, not a toy, with the emblem of the Phoenix Fire Department on it, and a pair of fireman’s boots. They are all manufactured here in Phoenix, so we can get them fast.”
Three days later, Fireman Bob picked Billy up, dressed him in his uniform and escorted him from the hospital to the hook-n-ladder truck outside. Billy got to sit in the back and help steer it back to the firehouse. He was in heaven.
There were three fire calls in Phoenix that day and Billy got to go out on all three. He rode in different fire engines, the paramedics van and even the Fire Chief’s car. He was also videotaped for the local news.
Having his dream come true, with all the love and attention that was lavished upon him, he was so deeply touched, he lived three months longer than anyone thought possible.
One night all of his vitals started dropping. The head nurse started to call his family. She then remembered Billy’s day as a “fireman”. 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. The Chief replied, “We can do better than that. We’ll be there in five minutes. Will you do us a favor? When you hear the sirens and see the lights flashing, will you announce over the PA that there is no fire. It’s just the fire department coming to see one of it’s finest one more time. And will you open the window to his room?”
About five minutes later, the hook-n-ladder arrived at the hospital, extended it ladder to Billy’s room and 16 firemen climbed through the window. With his mother’s permission, they hugged him and told him how much they loved him. Billy looked at the Chief and asked, “Am I really a fireman now?” The Chief said, “Billy, you are and the Head Chief, Jesus, is holding your hand.”
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.
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?” Billy said “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 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 giver her son a ride around the block on a fire engine. Fireman Bob said, “Look, we can do better than that. If you’ll have you son ready at 7 am on Wednesday, we’ll make him an honorary fireman for the whole day. He can come down to the firehouse, eat with us, go out on calls, the whole nine yards. And if you get us his sizes, we’ll get a real fire uniform for him with a real fire hat, not a toy, with the emblem of the Phoenix Fire Department on it, and a pair of fireman’s boots. They are all manufactured here in Phoenix, so we can get them fast.”
Three days later, Fireman Bob picked Billy up, dressed him in his uniform and escorted him from the hospital to the hook-n-ladder truck outside. Billy got to sit in the back and help steer it back to the firehouse. He was in heaven.
There were three fire calls in Phoenix that day and Billy got to go out on all three. He rode in different fire engines, the paramedics van and even the Fire Chief’s car. He was also videotaped for the local news.
Having his dream come true, with all the love and attention that was lavished upon him, he was so deeply touched, he lived three months longer than anyone thought possible.
One night all of his vitals started dropping. The head nurse started to call his family. She then remembered Billy’s day as a “fireman”. 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. The Chief replied, “We can do better than that. We’ll be there in five minutes. Will you do us a favor? When you hear the sirens and see the lights flashing, will you announce over the PA that there is no fire. It’s just the fire department coming to see one of it’s finest one more time. And will you open the window to his room?”
About five minutes later, the hook-n-ladder arrived at the hospital, extended it ladder to Billy’s room and 16 firemen climbed through the window. With his mother’s permission, they hugged him and told him how much they loved him. Billy looked at the Chief and asked, “Am I really a fireman now?” The Chief said, “Billy, you are and the Head Chief, Jesus, is holding your hand.”
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.
