Subject: Inspiring Story


       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, "Am I really a fireman now?"