Customer Service

In Phoenix, Arizona, 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 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 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 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 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 just the
fire
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
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, 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.

TRUE STORY