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Am I A Fireman Yet?? I cried let me know what you think.
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?"
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 We dnesday 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 inthe 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 hospitalto 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.
My instructions were to send this to at least four
People that I wanted God to bless and I picked you.
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?"
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 We dnesday 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 inthe 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 hospitalto 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.
My instructions were to send this to at least four
People that I wanted God to bless and I picked you.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Engineco913 on
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This is touching. I have read this quite a few times since around 1998 and each time it is touching. As well as it is touching, you have to realize that it is a work of fiction, no such thing has happened in Phoenix. (was confirmed by PFD)
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Permalink Reply by roy yoder on
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Maybe fiction but Chief Alan Brunnacini was on the cutting edge of public relations and i hope they haven't went backwards since his retirement. They had some programs out there like the one for news reporters that put them thru a special rookie school and then give them gear which allowed them into areas not allowed to others. This did not include the hot zone. They got some of the best news coverage you could get. The reporters were informed and trained as to what went on and therefore made right news. They also had one to do with school children and them riding on the trucks. I guess this scares the lawers to death so we can't do this public relations. I will say this, that the more one vol. the more one will recieve out of life. We need to look at the chances we can do things like this for our customers. Wishing it would have happened.
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Permalink Reply by chad on
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i have been around some of the same kinds of things i have been in the buisness since 1993 and my father and uncle were in since before i was born. i feel that if you don't show emotion that people would be inept and the world would be a worse off place cudos to you for showing this young man the time of his life and fulfilling his dream pats on the back to you and your dept for taking the time out of your day. keep safe your brother firefighter chad
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Permalink Reply by Art "ChiefReason" Goodrich on
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I have read several articles that describes alot of tension within the ranks of PFD since Brunacini left.
It seems as though the new chief is wanting to "de-Brunicize" the Phoenix Fire Department and it is not sitting well with several of the officers.
Getting back to the post; it has been around for many years. It should be a Hallmark movie, but it would have to compete with all of those cute pet trick shows.
TCSS.
Art
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sorry to hear about pfd and that route they may be taking. Dhief was a forward thinker and a very unassuming person. great teacher and no big ego. back up what he said with facts. good night Alan wherever you are.
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Permalink Reply by Wolfy Lang on
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