Category: Let's talk
A lovely story indeed!!
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 leukaemia. 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 & fulfil all his dreams.
Now that was no longer possible. The leukaemia 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.
I'm just glad he got his wish.
Wow! That's cool, not that he died, but that he got his wish.
Yeah, I'm glad he got his wish too. I've driven a fire engine my self (only on an old disused airfield though, lollol).
awwwww. that was soooooooo sweet!!!!
awww. wow. good for them. What a touching story. few things make me cry...
That's a good story. I'll send it to my friends.
Extremely touching! should make all of us think that we never know how much time we have to live. Making the Young lads dream come true should automatically let each firemen into heaven because for one day they made him feel special a fireman. that's all he wanted not to be rich but some who saves lives.
That's awesome!