Re: Inspirations

[Guest guest]

> > > > Subject: FW: Inspirations

>

> > > > > This story is definitely worth reading.

> > > > > 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,

> " ,

> > > 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 , 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.

> > > > > 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? "

> > > > > 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. 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.