The Littlest Firefighter

In Phoenix AZ. a 26-year-old mother stared down at her 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 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.
My instructions were to send this to people
that I wanted God to bless and I picked you. Please
pass this to at least four people you want to be blessed
as well as the person who sent it to you.
This story is powerful and there is nothing attached, 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 continue to uplift one another.