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Am I A Fireman Yet?
Am I A Fireman Yet??
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 & fulfill all his dreams. Now that was no longer possible.
The leukemia would see to that. But she still wanted her son's dream 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?'
Mom my, '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, 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 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 the 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 fire-fighters 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 & fulfill all his dreams. Now that was no longer possible.
The leukemia would see to that. But she still wanted her son's dream 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?'
Mom my, '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, 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 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 the 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 fire-fighters 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.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Cody Baker on
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This was so touching and sad... I cried several times just reading it over again... Billy you Really are a Fireman Now and You make a real good one. This story was so touching that it made me think about what I would go through as a firemen when I got older and had to see a little guy who was dying of Leukemia. My thoughts and thanks go out to the Phoenix Fire Department. Thanks you guys so much for makeing this little ones last day of life a great adventure
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When I read what you said And reading the end that brought tears to my eyes because Billy must have really been happy to know that he was a Firemen now WOW
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Permalink Reply by Dustin J. Millis on
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Yeah, this one makes my cry everytime I read it
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Permalink Reply by Michael Vito on
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I came across that story on email forwarding. It's really touching. But there is a similar story like that but in different service and a true story which I read it on Readers Digest. A terminally-ill kid wants to be a Marine. Let me check it out the links...
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Permalink Reply by Art "ChiefReason" Goodrich on
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Mom is now 41 years old and Billy is 21.
That's how long this story has been circulated.
I'm sure that the cops have their version by now.
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Permalink Reply by CHRIS STIMMELL on
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That's been a great story everytime I've read it. Good job, keep it going.
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Permalink Reply by CHIEF NORMAN on
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BROTHERS AND SISTERS NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES YOU SEE THIS STORY AND READ IT...IT ALWAYS DRAWS A TEAR IN YOUR EYE, AND MAKES YOU THANK HOW PROUD IT IS TO BE A FIREFIGHTER...THE MORAL OF THIS STORY IS; THERE IS NONTHING LIKE BEING THERE FOR SOMEONE YOU DONT EVEN KNOW IN THERE TIME OF NEED, AND IN THIS DAY OF TIME THE WORLD NEEDS MORE FIREMAN...THIS CHIEF TILTS HIS HAT TO ALL YOU FIREFIGHTERS OUT THERE FOR DOING WHAT YOU DO AND THATS BEING SOMEONES GUARDIAN ANGEL...
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Permalink Reply by Mike Schlags (Captain Busy) Retd on
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This is a classic example of leading by example. the Phoenix FD has done just that. Doesn't this make you swell with pride that we can do things like this for people. We live the dream... sharing it with someone else like this makes what we do even that much more special.
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Like it doesn't matter how many times I read this touching story I always wind up crying because I see the sadness in the little boys heart knowing that he would be gone soon and he wasn't able to be the FIRE FIGHTER He wanted to be and just thinking about makes me tear up.
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Permalink Reply by Jared Ryker on
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its the things like this that are rough. u will c many tragic accidents and have someones daughter/son put in a body bag right infront of u. its hard some times but you just have to keep striving to do the best u possibly can and be the best at ur job so that way when u have someones son/daughter's life in ur hands u will not second guess ur self... train, train, train and stay sharp on ur skills. i no that not every run is the same. on the medican side medical is medical. u will always have things that will get u caught up and make u think twice.... just make sure u now ur meds and all ur equipment on ur truck. also remimber ur not god there is only so much u can do to c to it that someone may c another day. just do ur job to the fullest and live with no regrets...... stay safe and goodluck with ur goals.... its a very exciting career like no other.
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