This was posted by someone else, but I had to repost it. A very wonderful story. Brought a tear to my eye.
>
> Am I A Fireman Yet??
>
> 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 & 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
> yo u 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 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 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 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.
