>Here's a story that will touch your heart. Am I A Fireman Yet??
>
>
>
>In Queensland, Australia, 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, "Ben, 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?"
>
>
>
>Mummy, I always wanted to be a fireman when I grew up."
>
>
>
>Mum smiled back and said, "Let's see if we can make your wish come
true."
>
>
>
>Later that day she went to her local fire Station in Brisbane, where
she
>met Fireman Bob, who had a heart as big as Queensland. 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 full Monty!
>
>
>
>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
Queensland
>Fire & Rescue Department on it, a yellow slicker like we wear and
rubber
>boots. They're all manufactured right here in Brisbane, so we can get
them
>fast."
>
>
>
>Three days later Fireman Bob picked up Ben, dressed him in his uniform
and
>escorted him from his hospital bed to the waiting truck. Ben 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 Brisbane that day and
Ben
>got to go out on all three calls. He rode in the different fire
engines
>that day. 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 Ben, 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 Ben had spent as a fireman, so she called
the
>Fire Station and asked if it would be possible to send a fireman in
>uniform to the hospital to be with Ben as he made his transition.
>
>
>
>The Officer in charge replied, "We can do better than that. We'll be
there
>in five minutes.
>
>
>
>Will you please do me a favour? 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 Ben's third floor open window--------
>
>16 fire-fighters climbed up the ladder into Ben'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, Ben looked up at the fire chief and said,
>"Chief, am I really a fireman now?"
>
>
>
>"Ben, you are, and the Head Chief, Jesus, is holding your hand," the
O.I.C
>said. With those words, Ben 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.