...................................AM... - Lung Conditions C...

Lung Conditions Community Forum

55,051 members65,842 posts

...................................AM I A FIREMAN YET?.......................A must read for all HealthUnlockders

KingoftheCocktails profile image

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

************************************************************************************************

KOTC

Written by
KingoftheCocktails profile image
KingoftheCocktails
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
22 Replies

Oh dear, King. That was so sad but a lovely story. Love Annie x

KingoftheCocktails profile image
KingoftheCocktails in reply to

This was an extra post that I felt was worthy of a mention annieseed

chellshock profile image
chellshock

That was sad, but very nice. Xx

KingoftheCocktails profile image
KingoftheCocktails in reply to chellshock

It can give us all a reminder! chellshock We are still here.

boadicea profile image
boadicea in reply to KingoftheCocktails

Thank you for Billy*s story. I shed tears with mixed feelings. Sad but glad. Thought you might like this. Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That*s why it*s called the present.

KingoftheCocktails profile image
KingoftheCocktails in reply to boadicea

Those words are a gift in themselves boadicea

longlungs profile image
longlungs

oh my KOTC today has been such a funny strange wonderful interesting one, for nothing i have ever experienced,buckets of support and now a bucket full of tears what aremarkable storey so very sad but strangely uplifting arnt there some great people out there.Janexx

KingoftheCocktails profile image
KingoftheCocktails in reply to longlungs

We some times do not appreciate what goes on around us Jane.

Toci profile image
Toci

Oh Your Majesty! You made me cry! (But thank you. x)

KingoftheCocktails profile image
KingoftheCocktails in reply to Toci

Raining in your heart? Toci

That lifted my spirits,although very sad xx

KingoftheCocktails profile image
KingoftheCocktails in reply to

Sometimes we are more lucky than we know Wendells

Mocarey profile image
Mocarey

What a different post thhis morning KOTC. It was heart breaking but wonderful. Thank you for posting. M

KingoftheCocktails profile image
KingoftheCocktails in reply to Mocarey

It brings us back into the real world. There is lots of love and kindness out there Mocary. The trouble is we don't always see or hear about

silversurfer profile image
silversurfer

Such a beautiful story proving there are some wonderful people in this world. thankyou for sharing it with us.

KingoftheCocktails profile image
KingoftheCocktails in reply to silversurfer

Wouldn't it be nice if all the world was like it silversurfer. What a wonderful world it would be.

That was beautiful, thank you KOTC.

We can all make a positive difference in people's lives whatever we are going through ourselves :-)

KingoftheCocktails profile image
KingoftheCocktails

And it is not always difficult to achieve flylikeeagles

Hecter profile image
Hecter

So so sad it made me cry but it was truly brilliant

KingoftheCocktails profile image
KingoftheCocktails in reply to Hecter

A very weepy story Hecter

appyalison profile image
appyalison

That made me cry, king. How beautiful... Alison

KingoftheCocktails profile image
KingoftheCocktails in reply to appyalison

There are good people in this world Alison.it is nice to hear about them

You may also like...

So Yet Another Follow Up - Starting I think 2020 - Bizzar,

Cystoscopy check - I was told you will get BSG again as soon as possible. Cancelled and summoned...

Why am I losing my voice

I am a wife of a COPD sufferer

I am new here - Extreme Anxiety over my various health conditions and managing them

Sunday’s Poem - Somebody’s Mother

paused beside her and whispered low,      \\"I'll help you cross, if you wish to go.\\"      Her...