INSPIRATIONAL

Sunday, May 11, 2008
3:33:00 PM EDT

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 and 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, have you ever thought about >> what you want to be once
you grow up? 
 
Do you ever dream about what you would do
with 
your life?' 
 
Mommy, 'I've always wanted to
be a fireman when I grow 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-man's 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 ho ok 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 paramedics' 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 t he Head Chief in Heaven, 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. 

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