The Littlest Fireman's Last Wish

I wrote about this story, (it's not mine), about 400 columns ago, and I got a request for it last week from three different people, so here it is again.

In Phoenix, Arizona, a 26 year old mother stared down at her 6 year old son, who was dying of terminal luekemia. Although her heart was full of 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. But she still wanted to see all her son's dreams fulfilled. 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?

Billy said, "Mommy I always wanted to be a fireman when I grew up."

Mom smiled and said, "Let's see if we can make that dream 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 with us on all fire calls, the whole nine yards. And if you give us his sizes, we'll get a real 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 went out on all three calls. He rode in different fire engines the paramedics van, and even the chief's car. Having his dream come true helped Billy to live three months longer than any doctor thought possible.

One night Billy's vital signs began to drop dramatically and the head nurse, who believed in the hospital 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.

The chief responded,"We can do better than that. We'll be there in five minutes. Will you 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 it's 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 it's ladder up to Billy's third floor open window. 16 firefighters climbed up the ladder to Billy's room. With his mother's permission they all gave him a hug and told him they loved him.

With his dying breath Billy looked at the Chief and said, "Am I really a fireman now?"

The Chief said, "Yes Billy, you are."

Billy then closed his eyes one last time.

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