Subject: The Little Firefighter
   
In Phoenix, Arizona, 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 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 and extended its ladder up to Billy's third floor open 
window. 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.