Little Fireman

[Guest guest]

Jaya Sri Radhey!

 

I received this uplifting message and like to share with other

members as well.

.............

 

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. he 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.

 

...........

 

Jaya Sri Radhey!