In a message dated 1/13/01 8:51:47 AM Central Standard Time, ramsey@extremezone.com writes: >>The 26-year-old mother stared down at her 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, "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 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 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 fire 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 video taped 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 just the fire department coming to see one of it's finest members one more time. And will you open the window to his room?.....Thanks." About five minutes later, a hook an ladder truck arrived at the hospital, extended its ladder up to Billy's third floor open window and 16 firefighters 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." the chief said. With those words, Billy smiled and closed his eyes one last time. Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart. To handle yourself, use your head; To handle others, use your heart. Anger is only one letter short of danger. Great minds discuss ideas; Average minds discuss events; Small minds discuss people He who loses money, loses much; He who loses a friend, loses much more; He who loses faith, loses all. Friends, you and me.. You brought another friend... and then there were three... We started our group... Our circle of friends... And like that circle... There is no beginning or end. Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. Send this to everyone you consider FRIEND.<< THE LITTLEST PIANO TUNER The mother stared helplessly at her precious little boy. You see, he had Diphaloosas of the Ugag and it was terminal. "What would you like to be when you grow up, Billy?" Mom asked through tearing eyes. "I want to be a piano tuner!" Billy beamed. As shocked as mom was, she called a local piano dealer to see if she could find a piano tuner. Luck would have it that sixteen tuners were hanging out, drinking coffee and trading war stories about having to tune Baldwins. Mom told one of them how Billy was dying and how he dreamed of being a piano tuner. "Could one of you come over to see my son?" "It would mean so much to him." "Sure," said the piano tuner, "but thats not all!" "All sixteen of us are coming over and guess what else?" "We are going to bring Billy a whole set of tuning tools. Not toys, but the real thing! Except kid size! We live right next to Schaff Piano Supply so we can get them made up today!" Mom was choked up. What swell guys these piano tuners are! Soon they were at Billy's house with a ladder and they all came through the bedroom window. Billy was overcome with joy. "Wow! Real piano tuners!" "And thats not all Billy" one of the tuners exclaimed, "Van Cliburn is performing in town tonight and you are going to tune the piano all by yourself!" This was just a little more than Billy could handle. He took one last breath and was gone. This story is true, just light the firefighter story. Honest! Dave Bunch
This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC