A Fireman in Phoenix, Arizona
A 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 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 and extended its
ladder up to Billy's third floor open window. Sixteen (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, 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.
There is never an Ending - Just a beginning!