reborn2001
Member
- Joined
- Dec 29, 2004
- Messages
- 21
Heaven's Fireman
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 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?"
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 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 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 fire
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 just the fire 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 firefighters 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.
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 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?"
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 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 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 fire
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 just the fire 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 firefighters 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.
