This is a true story... It was in the papers here in Arizona and
on
TV...
> > >nice that someone has picked up on it and written it to share
> > >
> > >
> > >The Littlest Firefighter
> > >
> > >The 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
> > >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
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
video
> taped
> > >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?......Thanks."
> > >
> > >About five minutes later a hook and ladder truck arrived at the
hospital,
> > >extended
> > >its ladder up to Billy's third floor open window and 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," the chief said. With those words,Billy smiled
and
> closed
> > >his
> > >eyes one last time.
> > >
> > >
> > >Many people will walk in and out of your life,
> > >But only true friends will leave footprints in your
> > >heart.
> > >
> > >To handle yourself, use your head;
> > >To handle others, use your heart
> > >
> > >Anger is only one letter short of danger.
> > >
> > >Great minds discuss ideas;
> > >Average minds discuss events;
> > >Small minds discuss people.
> > >
> > >He who loses money, loses much;
> > >He, who loses a friend, loses much more;
> > >He, who loses faith, loses all.
> > >
> > >Beautiful young people are accidents of nature,
> > >But beautiful old people are works of art.
> > >
> > >Learn from the mistakes of others.
> > >You can't live long enough to make them all
> > >yourself.
> > >
> > >Friends, you and me..
> > >You brought another friend....
> > >And then there were 3....
> > >We started our group....
> > >Our circle of friends....
> > >And like that circle....
> > >There is no beginning or end..
> > >
> > >Yesterday is history.
> > >Tomorrow is mystery
> > >Today is a gift.
