In  Calgary   ,  Alberta    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 &
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  Calgary   , where she met
Fireman  Bob, who had a heart as big as  Alberta  
 
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 Calgary Fire Department on it,  and a yellow slicker like we wear and rubber boots.'
 
'They're all  manufactured right here in  Calgary   ,

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  Calgary    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.