Friday, January 9, 2009

Am I A Fireman Yet?

I received this in an email today, and as I sat in silence and read this story I found myself crying. This story really touched my heart and soul. How could I not share this amazing story with others. So here it is, I'm sharing it with you. I know it's a long read, but it's so worth it.


This is a true story, according to snopes, but his name was not Billy and some of the Chief's and Billy's words at the end were not included in the original. It's still a great and touching story.

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, 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.




17 comments:

  1. hi michelle i read your post its very sad, i like to share my link with your blog.visit my walkitz.blogspot.com,you can get informative things happening around the world.

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  2. I'm still crying now...such a wonderful, touching story. It was a happy ending still for the little boy. Life is indeed full of wonders, nothing is too late.By the way, thank you so much for approving my EC :) Warm Hugs! and have a great weekend!

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  3. I have a very hard time reading things like this now that I am a mom. It breaks my heart.

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  4. Touching. The would really is a wonderful place and there are great people everywhere.

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  5. It takes a lot to make me cry but that did it. I worked as a volunteer for St Jude when I was younger and still remember the pain on the parents faces and the determination and strength of the children. That was a beautiful story and a reminder that there are still good people in the world.

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  6. I have read this one before but it still is very touching! What a wonderful story.

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  7. I had a friend who died of leukemia when he was 32 years old.

    This story was very good and the picture of this little boy is icing on the cake.

    Thanks for sharing.

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  8. That was really a good one. Thanks.

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  9. oh my goodness this made my heart ache, thanks for sharing

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  10. hi michelle thanks for your comment,shall we share our link.

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  11. Oh man, the tears are still coming down my face on this one. How beautiful not only the child, but the wonderful firemen who made his last days truly amazing.

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  12. I love this story and no matter how many times I have read it, I still cry!

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  13. I'm deeply touched with the story. must be so hard for the mother to see her dying son. so nice of those firemen who made his last days a wonderful one.

    thanks for sharing the story.

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  14. What a beautiful story. Thanks for sharing.

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  15. This story gave me goose bumps. Thanks for sharing. My DH is firefighter and I shared it with him too.

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  16. Awww, this definitely got me tearing up.

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