I just had to share this true story...
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In Phoenix , Arizona , a 26-year-old mother
stared down at her 6 year old son, who was
dying of 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, 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.