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 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?
Have you ever dreamed about what it is you
would’ve liked to have done 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 f ire
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
touched Billy so deeply,
with all the love and attention that was lavished upon him,
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,”
said the chief , “and
The Head Chief,
Jesus, is holding your hand”
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.
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