<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; = charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content="MSHTML 5.50.4611.1300" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV>I'm probably going to get flamed, but I thought some of you would = like reading this:</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>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?" = <FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT size=+0>"Mommy, I always wanted to be a = fireman when I grew up."</FONT></FONT> <FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT = size=+0>Mom smiled back and said, "Let's see if we can make your wish come true."</FONT></FONT> <P><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT size=+0>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.   _________________________________________________________________ </= FONT></FONT>    </P></DIV> <DIV>Kevin E. Ramsey, R.P.T.<BR><A href="mailto:ramsey@extremezone.com">ramsey@extremezone.com</A> </DIV></BODY></HTML>