.................................AM I A FIREMAN YET?
If you feel 'teary' go ahead, who's watching?
In Phoenix Arizona a 26 year old mother stares down at her 6year old son ,who was dying with 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 fulfil all his dreams.
Now that was no longer possible, the leukemia would see to that.
But she still wanted her sons dreams to come true
She took her sons 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,he can 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 areal fire hat-not a toy- one with the emblem of the Phoenix Fire Department on it
and yellow slicker like we wear and rubber boots
''They're all manufactured 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 Paramedics van, and even the fire chief's car.
He was video taped for the local news programme.
Having his dream come true, with all the love and attention that was
lavished on 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 favour.?
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 fire department coming to see one of it's finest members one more time.
And will open the window to his room?''
About five minutes later a hook and ladder truck arrived at the hospital and
extended it's ladder up to Billy's third floor open window------------
16 fire fighters climbed up the ladder into Billy's room with his mothers permission,
they hugged 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 has been holding my hand all day And the Angels have been singing.''
He closed his eyes one last time
This is a true story
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KOTC
Start the day
Here we go again Monday Monday
A bit long, but worth a giggle!
