Am I a fireman yet? True story.

[Adatise]

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 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 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, God, 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.

True Story
Love and light to all....

[GUA]

Why is this in humour? A touching story, but I was expecting a punch line (my bad).

[Arrogance]

Nice story Adatise, perhaps meant to be in the general gold cafe section?

[Acro]

I think the humor lies in the words "true story".
Yes, a touchy story written to become an email chain letter.

[Raider]

Real nice story.

Why are you guys typing so small?

[HarveyJ]

The funny part is the kid had leukemia, right?
Seriously, I have no sympathy for these stories because they're always feel good PR puff pieces by Make-A-Wish and then circulated by their lists to go viral or disproved at Snopes (although this one is actually verified as the former in this case).

[Albert Tai]

Aww sad story and it was very touching
Great fireman...great kid.

[Raider]

I have no sympathy for these stories because they're always feel good PR puff pieces by Make-A-Wish

Your right Harvey, The Make-A-Wish foundation is just in it for the PR, I mean how dare they bring happiness and joy to children who are terminally ill.



I take it you dont have children.

[Ehsan]

It would really help if it was in normal font !

[denny007]

Is that the biggest font available on DNF or it still could be bigger ?

[HarveyJ]

Your right Harvey, The Make-A-Wish foundation is just in it for the PR, I mean how dare they bring happiness and joy to children who are terminally ill.



I take it you dont have children.

No, I don't. I'll leave breeding up to the rest of the herd. And when I want a kid, I'll adopt.
There are enough kids out there in needs of parents, I could collect a whole set and make my own "Jackson 5". Picking the ones with vitiligo and musical talent might be hard though.

Conversely, I take it you have no idea about how much the people that run it are paying themselves from all the donations that people give to it, and manage to avoid a metric arse-tonne of taxes along the way whilst celebrities manage to bludge off community service time.
You want to do something good for sick and dying kids? Donate to biological or scientific research, not BS feel good enterprises that contribute nothing to society but photo opps.

[Raider]

No, I don't.

I'm not at all surprised.

Conversely, I take it you have no idea about how much the people that run it are paying themselves from all the donations that people give to it, and manage to avoid a metric arse-tonne of taxes along the way whilst celebrities manage to bludge off community service time.

Most charities work this way, so why single out Make-A-Wish?

You want to do something good for sick and dying kids? Donate to biological or scientific research, not BS feel good enterprises that contribute nothing to society but photo opps.

We can do both... I really dont know what you have against bringing joy to a terminally ill child, Did your parents not show you any love and affection when you were growing up?

I sponsor a few children through World Vision, I suppose your going to tell me I should donate that money to birth control instead right?.

[tekz999]

Why is this in a humor section? Good story. But I was expecting something funny to laugh with............

[HarveyJ]

I sponsor a few children through World Vision, I suppose your going to tell me I should donate that money to birth control instead right?.

Yes, actually.
Those kids wouldn't be there, suffering poverty, if there was decent birth control and sexual education in those countries. We're talking about REAL basic stuff here, like the fact that raping 3 year olds, because they're virgins, won't cure the AIDS you have because no one ever taught you about protection, because absolutely no aid money coming from the West is allowed to be used on sexual education...

But hey, that's just my view point.

As for charities, I single out Make A Wish because they are the worst, although a lot of the religiously based ones aren't too good either. i.e. World Vision scandal where they wouldn't feed people that didn't convert. Hmmm...
There are dozens of charities that DO a good job, I wholeheartedly support those with donations. I've even done online affiliate marketing for a couple of these charities, and then donated the money they paid me back to the charity.
Oxfam and FH currently get my support, as there doesn't seem to be any controversy surrounding their distribution of funds.

[Raider]

Yes, actually.

Those kids wouldn't be there, suffering poverty, if there was decent birth control and sexual education in those countries. We're talking about REAL basic stuff here, like the fact that raping 3 year olds, because they're virgins, won't cure the AIDS you have because no one ever taught you about protection, because absolutely no aid money coming from the West is allowed to be used on sexual education...

The one thing you keep missing here is; It's too late for prevention, too late for birth control and too late for education, The babies were born, the babies are now children who don't have food, proper nutrition and hygiene. This is where charity organizations come in to help these kids, And don't say the money never reaches them because it does!, I've seen it first hand.

Your correct that more money should be flowing into education and birth control, I don't dispute that, but don't tell me these causes are more important than sending humanitarian aide, it makes you look heartless and completely out of touch.