The Littlest Firefighter

**This is an e-mail story that I received; although I do not know if this incident actually took place, it still is a powerful story and one that is very uplifting and inspirational in my book. I wanted to share it with others. The feeling I had after reading it was incredible.**



The Littlest Firefighter

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. Link 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 asks, "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 asks 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 are 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 video taped 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.

The she remembered the day Billy had spent as a fireman, so she called the Fire Chief and ask if it would be possible to send a fireman in uniform to the hospital to be with Billy as he made has 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 please 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 firefighters climbed up the ladder and 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.

"I know, He's been holding my hand all day, and the angels have been singing", Billy said. Then he closed his eyes one last time.

Author Unknown



~Breezey~

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