The Littlest Firefighter in Phoenix AZ A 26-year-old mother stared down at her son who was dying of terminal le ukemia. Although her heart was filled with sadness, she also had a stron g 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 s he still wanted her son's dreams to come true. She took her son's hand a nd asked, "Billy, did you ever think about what you wanted to be once yo u 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 expl ained her son's final wish and asked if it might be possible to give her six-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 a t seven o'clock Wednesday morning, we'll make him an honorary fireman fo r the whole day. He can come down to the fire station, eat with us,go ou t 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 he re in Phoenix, so we can get them fast."
Three days later Fireman Bob picked up Billy, dressed him in his fire un iform and escorted him from his hospital bed to the waiting hook and lad der truck. Billy got to sit on the back of the truck and help steer it b ack to the fire station. He was in heaven. There were three fire calls i n Phoenix that day and Billy got to go out on all three calls. He rode i n the different fire engines, the paramedic's van, and even the fire chi ef's car. He was also videotaped for the local news program.
Having his dream come true, with all the love and attention that was lav ished upon him, so deeply touched Billy that he lived three months longe r 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 un iform 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 m inutes. Will you please do me a favor? When you hear the sirens scream ing and see the lights flashing, will you announce over the PA system th at there is not a fire? It's just the fire department coming to see on e 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 firef ighters climbed up the ladder into Billy's room. With his mother's permi ssion, 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, Jesu s, 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 ha ve been singing." He closed his eyes one last time.
My instructions were to send this to at least four people that I wanted God to bless and I picked you. Please pass this to at least four people you want to be blessed. This story is powerful and there is nothing atta ched, please do not break this pattern; uplifting stories are one of the best gifts we receive. There is no cost but a lot of rewards, let's con tinue to uplift one another.