FireGuy Firefighters Hall's blog: ""

Am I A Fireman Yet?? In Phoenix , Arizona ,a 26-year-old motherstared 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 determin-ation. 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 wecan 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 asbig as Phoenix . 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 hissizes, we'll get a real fire uniform for him, with a real fire hat - not a toy -- one-with the emblem of thePhoenix 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 got to go out on all three calls. He rode in the different fire engines, theParamedic's' van, and even the fire chief's car. He was also videotaped for the local newsprogram. Having his dream come true, with all the loveand attention that was lavished upon him, sodeeply touched Billy, that he lived threemonths longer than any doctor thought pos-sible. One night all of his vital signs began todrop dramatically and the head nurse, whobelieved in the hospice concept - that no oneshould 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 thereis not a fire?' 'It's the department coming to see one ofits 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-fightersclimbed up the ladderinto Billy's room. With his mother's permission, they huggedhim 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 fire-man 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. My instructions were to send this to at least four people that I wanted God to bless and I picked you. Please pass this to at least four people you want to be blessed. This story is powerful and there is nothing attached. PLEASE do not break this pattern; 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 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lord, guide me through the fire And make my pathway clear; As I rescue those in Danger, May I have no Fear. Although the flames surround me, I know I'm not alone; For You are right beside me; You never leave Your own.

Month One Mommy I am only 4 inches long but I have all my organs. I love the sound of your voice. The sound of your heart beat is my favorite lullaby. Month Two Mommy today I learned how to suck my thumb. If you could see me you could definitely tell that I am a baby. I'm not big enough to survive outside my home though. It is so nice and warm in here. Month Three You know what Mommy I'm a boy!! I hope that makes you happy. I always want you to be happy. I don't like it when you cry. You sound so sad. It makes me sad too and I cry with you even though you can't hear me. Month Four Mommy my hair is starting to grow. It is very short and fine but I will have a lot of it. I spend a lot of my time exercising. I can turn my head and curl my fingers and toes and stretch my arms and legs. I am becoming quite good at it too. Month Five You went to the doctor today. Mommy, he lied to you. He said that I'm not a baby. I am a baby Mommy, your baby. I think and feel. Mommy, what's abortion? Month Six I can hear that doctor again. I don't like him. He seems cold and heartless. Something is intruding my home. The doctor called it a needle. Mommy what is it? It burns! Please make him stop! I can't get away from it! Mommy! HELP me! Month Seven Mommy I am okay. I am in Jesus's arms. He is holding me. He told me about abortion. Why didn't you want me Mommy? Every Abortion Is Just . . . One more heart that was stopped. Two more eyes that will never see. Two more hands that will never touch. Two more legs that will never run. One more mouth that will never speak. If you're against abortion, post this as... I dont care how many friends i lose over this

They dread the pager or the call, their heart becomes a grave. Their loved one called out again, to extinguish or to save. The shower was hot, the food was served, they were about to eat, their loved one has gone, the food goes cold, sadness and loneliness they greet. Worry and Hope, a battle rage, within a proud heart, for important things are happening, they must be brave and smart. They know the drawbacks of the job, they accept them in their stride, knowing their mate may save a life, has given them lots of pride. The raging fires, the gusting winds, God, preserve them from that fate, Please Dear God, Help me, to be reunited with my mate.

Here it is two in the morning, I just woke up to the tones on your pager going off. Every time I hear the dispatcher say this is your fire call I feel like crying. I know you are a volunteer because you love it. That's why I save my tears for when you are out the door. As I sit here by the scanner, my only link to you at this time, I wait and worry. I know you think I am silly for worrying, but I just can't help it. I think back to the day in September, the day our whole country was forever changed. The day so many lost their lives, their families. I think of those firefighters that answered that call. I think of their families. The firefighters who went home with heavy hearts and the ones who will never get to go home again. I don't think they left on that day thinking that so many brothers would be lost. It still saddens my heart to think about it. I worry that one day a call will come and you will never come home to me again. You volunteer to help people and I love you for that. You make me so proud. Proud that you would take time out of your life to help someone else. I wanted to write you this letter and tell you that I am proud of you and love you for who you are and what you do. You are my hero- and you always will be. Now as I close this letter my heart isn't as heavy as it was. Your department just got cleared from the scene and I heard your voice on the radio. I know that I can thank God because you are coming home to me and our family. I will wait like I always do, for you to come through that door and save me from my fears. I say a prayer for those who will not get to come home, and I will say a prayer for those who now have no home to go to. Now you are home, I can rest easy knowing that my hero is with me again.

He’s the guy next door - a man’s man with the memory of a little boy. gotten over the excitement of engines and sirens and danger. He’s a guy like you and me with warts and worries and unfulfilled dreams. Yet he stands taller than most of us. He’s a fireman. He puts it all on the line when the bell rings. A fireman is at once the most fortunate and the least fortunate of men. He’s a man who saves lives because he has seen too much death. He’s a gentle man because he has seen the awesome power of violence out of control. He’s responsive to a child’s laughter because his arms have held too many small bodies that will never laugh again. He’s a man who appreciates the simple pleasures of life - hot coffee held in numb, unbending fingers - a warm bed for bone and muscle compelled beyond feeling - the camaraderie of brave men - the divine peace and selfless service of a job well done in the name of all men. He doesn’t wear buttons or wave flags or shout obscenities. When he marches, it is to honor a fallen comrade. He doesn’t preach the brotherhood of man. He lives it.

My father was a fireman. He drove a big red truck and when he'd go to work each day he'd say, "Mother wish me luck." Then Dad would not come home again 'til sometime the next day. But the the thing that bothered me the most was the thing's some folks would say, "A fireman's life is easy, he eats and sleeps and plays, and sometimes he won't fight a fire for days and days." When I first heard these words I was too young to understand but I knew when people had trouble Dad was there to lend a hand. Then my father went to work one day and kissed us all goodbye but little did we realize that night we all would cry. My father lost his life that night when the floor gave way below and I'd wondered why he'd risk his life for someone he did not know. But now I truly realize the greatest gift a man can give is to lay his life upon the line so that someone else might live. So as we go from day to day and we pray to God above say a prayer for your local fireman. He may save the one's you love.

I wish you could see the sadness of a business man as his livelihood goes up in flames or that family returning home,only to find their house and belongings damaged or destroyed. I wish you could know what it is to search a burning bedroom for trapped children,flames rolling above your head, your palms and knees burning as you crawl,the floor sagging under your weight as the kitchen beneath you burns. I wish you could comprehend a wife's horror at 3 A.M. as I check her husband of forty years for a pulse and find none.I start CPR anyway, hoping against the odds to bring him back,knowing intuitively it is too late.But wanting his wife and family to know everything possible was done. I wish you could know the unique smell of burning insulation,the taste of soot-filled mucus, the feeling of intense heat through your turnout gear, the sound of flames crackling,and the eeriness of being able to see absolutely nothing in dense smoke sensations that I have become too familiar with. I wish you could understand how it feels to go to work in the morning after having spent most of the night, hot and soaking wet at a multiple alarm fire. I wish you could read my mind as I respond to a building fire,"Is this a false alarm or a working,breathing fire?How is the building constructed? What hazards await me?Is anyone trapped or are they all out?" or to an EMS call, "What is wrong with the patient? Is it minor or life-threatening? Is the caller really in distress or is he waiting for us with a 2x4 or a gun?" I wish you could be in the emergency room as the doctor pronounces dead the beautiful little five-year old girl that I have been trying to save during the past twenty-five minutes, who will never go on her first date or say the words,"I love you Mommy," again. I wish you could know the frustration I feel in the cab of the engine,the driver with his foot pressing down hard on the pedal, my arm tugging again and again at the air horn chain, as you fail to yield right-of-way at an intersection or in traffic. When you need us, however, your first comment upon our arrival will be, "It took you forever to get here!" I wish you could read my thoughts as I help extricate a girl of teenage years from the mangled remains of her automobile, 'What if this were my sister, my girlfriend, or a friend? What were her parents' reactions going to be as they open the door to find a police officer, I wish you could know how it feels to walk in the back door and greet my parents and family, not having the heart to tell them that I nearly did not come home from this last call. I wish you could feel my hurt as people verbally, and sometimes physically, abuse us or belittle what we do, or as they express their attitudes of ,It will never happen to me. I wish you could realize the physical, emotional, and mental drain of missed meals, lost sleep, and forgone social activities, in addition to all the tragedy my eyes have viewed. I wish you could know the brotherhood and self-satisfaction of helping save a life or preserving someone's property, of being there in times of crisis, or creating order from total CHAOS. I wish you could understand what it feels like to have a little boy tugging on your arm and asking, "Is my Mommy O.K.?" Not even being able to look in his eyes without tears falling from your own and not knowing what to say. Or to have to hold back a long-time friend who watches his buddy having rescue breathing done on him as they take him away in the ambulance. You knowing all along he did not have his seat belt on. Sensations that I have become too familiar with. Unless you have lived this kind of life, you will never truly understand or appreciate who I am, what we are, or what our job really means to us. I WISH YOU COULD!

A fireman's life is one big surprise, Usually he laughs, sometimes he cries. There's always stress,toil and strife, Hoping he's good enough to save just one life.His wife understands,when he misses dinner,If he runs out of church, don't think he's a sinner.Answering a call,is tops on his list,Regretting each one he's ever missed.He tries and tries,but can't make us see,The happiest men,still work for free.Jumping from bed, fighting the cold,Knowing what to do, without being told. He rushes to the station, jumps on a truck.Depending on skill, never on luck.Putting his life on the line,for an unknown friend,Hoping and praying,it won't be the end. "The Bravest Men In The World", the title is fitting, They all do their best, never come close to quitting.Next time you see them,all their lights blinking,Take just a minute, to think what they're thinking. It's a hard job, so show them you care, And help them out,with a little prayer.

Did you know there's a Fire Department in Heaven? I heard Cap tell that sorrowful lad. The young boy stared, working over the words he's just been given. Cap, do you think God's got a spot on the truck for my dad? Cap smiled, even though you could tell his heart was heavy, and said, You bet son, as he roughed the hair on the boy's head. Timmy looked up, his sadness for now, gone. Cap went on, holding back the tears that were trying to fall. They've got the biggest reddest trucks you ever saw, And they keep them cleaned and ready, Just in case they get a call. Of course they don't get too many, Bein' in Heaven and all. But God knew this, so right next to them He made, A great big tree, that puts out lots of shade. And each day they have at least one run, Down the streets of Heaven, leading the afternoon parade. Thats been years ago now, And in that time, things have changed alot. Cap, he's been retired, and I, somehow, made it to Chief. And Timmy, He's just Tim now, down at station two, And, I must say, one of the finest Captains on my crew. The day came, the worst of any other, When we have to say farewell to a fallen brother. I watched, as Tim walked over to that hero's son, And shared some words, just as my Cap and Tim had done... Did you know there's a Fire Department in Heaven?......