OFF-TOPIC[Fwd: Fw: Fw: fireman]

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>> Subject: Fw: fireman

>> Date: Wed, 21 Nov 2001 17:26:42 -0600

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>> Made me cry!!!

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>> The Littlest Firefighter

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>> In Phoenix, Arizona, a 26-year-old mother stared down at her 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.

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>> 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, " , 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? "

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>> Mommy, " I always wanted to be a fireman when I grew up. "

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>> Mom smiled back and said, " Let's see if we can make your wish come =

>> true. "

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>> 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.

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>> 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. "

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>> Three days later Fireman Bob picked up , dressed him in his fire =

>> uniform and escorted him from his hospital bed to the waiting hook and =

>> ladder truck. 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 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 that he lived three months =

>> longer than any doctor thought possible.

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>> 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 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 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? "

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>> About five minutes later a hook and ladder truck arrived at the hospital =

>> and extended its ladder up to 's third floor open window. 16 =

>> firefighters climbed up the ladder into 's room. With his mother's =

>> permission, they hugged him and held him and told him how much they =

>> loved him.

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>> With his dying breath, looked up at the fire chief and said, =

>> " Chief, am I really a fireman now? " " , you are, and the Head Chief, =

>> Jesus, is holding your hand, " the chief said. With those words, =

>> 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.

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>> 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 as well as the person who sent it to you.

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>> 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.

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