The Littlest Firefighter - Miscellaneous - http://maxpages.com/myemptyspace/The_Littlest

>> >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 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 just the fire 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, 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.
>> >

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Page Updated Wed Jun 13, 2001 10:05pm EDT