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Sidekick

Registered: 11-2005
Location: Here, alone.
Posts: 409
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Another Sweet Story


This one hits close to home, being that I am an industrial firefighter myself. I hope you all enjoy it.

Bill
****************************************
The Fireman

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.

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.



---
After a flutter of wings and the rush of air, the alley predators were left trussed and beaten by what the police termed as the Gotham "Urban Legend"
7/9/2006, 5:50 pm Link to this post Send Email to TheLionWaits   Send PM to TheLionWaits
 
BelmontBat Profile
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Keeper of the Cave

Registered: 02-2004
Posts: 4228
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Re: Another Sweet Story


I'm not trying to pick on you or the stories. This one is true, but not accurate. First off, the child's name was Frank "Bopsy" Salazar.

Here is Frank:
Image

And the account from the folks at Make A Wish:

The Pheonix Fire Department made sure Bopsy had an experience truly befitting a fireman — making him the first honorary fireman in Phoenix history. A full uniform, complete with a yellow coat and a helmet, was custom made just for him. Bopsy scrambled around the back of Engine 9's ladder truck, and turned on the horn. Following the ride, he doused a few cars with water from a 75-pound hose. At the end of the day, Bopsy was pinned with an official firefighter’s badge.

Me again. He also wanted to ride in a hot air balloon and visit Disneyland. He got both wishes as well. The part about all the firemen climbing through his window is also partially true. It was five, not 16.

Once again, from the Make A Wish folks:

Bopsy's condition worsened not long after returning from California, and he had to return to the hospital. As he slept in his third floor room, someone suddenly knocked on his window and opened it, and in came five of his fellow Phoenix firemen. They had parked their ladder truck below. As his colleagues continued to crawl through the window, Bopsy — now fully awake — could not contain his laughter. Bopsy shared a few laughs and stories with his friends before going back to sleep, with a smile on his face. Later that evening, Bopsy passed away — but not before seeing all three of his fondest wishes come true.

Again, I'm not trying to pick on you or your stories. It's just with emotional things like this, it's easy to get carried away with them. That's all.



Last edited by BelmontBat, 7/10/2006, 3:04 pm


---
Howdy.
7/10/2006, 3:02 pm Link to this post Send Email to BelmontBat   Send PM to BelmontBat
 
TheLionWaits Profile
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Sidekick

Registered: 11-2005
Location: Here, alone.
Posts: 409
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Re: Another Sweet Story


Hey there. No worries there. I get them in EMail, I don't make them up or add to them, I just pass them along because they are extremely touching...which is rather odd for me since a few years ago I didn't give a damn either way.

You have no worries, I'm not gonna get mad or go postal, but just so's ya know, this grouchy old cuss is becoming a humongous softie.

Cheerio!

---
After a flutter of wings and the rush of air, the alley predators were left trussed and beaten by what the police termed as the Gotham "Urban Legend"
7/11/2006, 6:45 pm Link to this post Send Email to TheLionWaits   Send PM to TheLionWaits
 
BelmontBat Profile
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Keeper of the Cave

Registered: 02-2004
Posts: 4228
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Re: Another Sweet Story


That's very nice of you to say so. I never think any other way of anyone on the board. I just didn't want you to think I was only focusing on you.

Later!

---
Howdy.
7/11/2006, 9:07 pm Link to this post Send Email to BelmontBat   Send PM to BelmontBat
 


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