Am I A Fireman, Yet?

Hello Everyone!

I was sent this story in email form to forward to 4 of my friends.  I'm not usually into "chain" emails or letters but this was too good to pass up.  Also, I didn't want to limit it to only 4 friends.  This is apparently a true story.  Hope it blesses you as it did me.  It brings life into perspective and helps me realize that life can be short and to not take for granted the days God gives us.  Also, not to take for granted those around us as we never know how long each life will be. 

AM I A FIREMAN YET?


If you "tear up" go ahead, who's watching?

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 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, and 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.

Hope you enjoyed this story and it blessed you today.  Have a great rest of the week and weekend.  Until next time...

Have a blessed day,

maggie jane