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If you "tear up" go ahead, who's watching?
In Calgary, Alberta 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 Calgary ,
where she met Fireman Bob, who had a heart as big as Alberta.
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 Calgary Fire
Department on it, and a yellow slicker like we wear and rubber boots.'
'They're all manufactured right here in
Calgary, 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 Calgary
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.
This story is powerful and there is
nothing attached.
Uplifting stories are one of the best
gifts we receive. There is no cost, but
a lot of rewards, let's continue to
uplift one another!
This is a true story