“Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.” ~ Mark 10:14
Recently I received an email story about a six year old boy named Billy who was dying of leukemia. One day the boy’s young mother asked her son a question.
“Billy, did you ever think about what you wanted to be once you grew up? Did you ever dream about what you would do with your life?"
“Mommy,” he replied, “I always wanted to be a fireman when I grew up."
Billy’s mom smiled and set out to see if she could make her son’s wish come true. Later that day she went to the local fire department 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 a ride around the block on a fire engine.
The fire chief replied, “We can do one better than that.” And they did. Billy was made an honorary fireman for a day and was allowed to go on all the fire calls with the crew. He was in seventh heaven riding in the fire engines that day. It meant so much to Billy to have his dream come true. The local news even covered the special event.
Billy lived three months longer than anyone expected, but one night his vital signs started dropping dramatically. 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 spent as a fireman, so she called the fire chief and asked if it would be possible to send a uniformed fireman to the hospital to be with Billy as he made his transition. The chief replied, "We can do one better than that.” And they did.
A short while later, the Phoenix fire department arrived at the hospital to visit “one of their finest” one last time. A hook and ladder truck arrived at the hospital and extended its ladder up to Billy's third floor window. Sixteen firefighters climbed into Billy's room and each one lined up to give Billy a hug. With his dying breath, Billy looked up at the fire chief and said, "Chief, am I really a fireman now?" "Yes Billy, you are. And the Head Chief is holding your hand." Billy smiled and said, "I know, He's been holding my hand all day, and the angels have been singing." Then he closed his eyes one last time.
“Billy, did you ever think about what you wanted to be once you grew up? Did you ever dream about what you would do with your life?"
“Mommy,” he replied, “I always wanted to be a fireman when I grew up."
Billy’s mom smiled and set out to see if she could make her son’s wish come true. Later that day she went to the local fire department 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 a ride around the block on a fire engine.
The fire chief replied, “We can do one better than that.” And they did. Billy was made an honorary fireman for a day and was allowed to go on all the fire calls with the crew. He was in seventh heaven riding in the fire engines that day. It meant so much to Billy to have his dream come true. The local news even covered the special event.
Billy lived three months longer than anyone expected, but one night his vital signs started dropping dramatically. 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 spent as a fireman, so she called the fire chief and asked if it would be possible to send a uniformed fireman to the hospital to be with Billy as he made his transition. The chief replied, "We can do one better than that.” And they did.
A short while later, the Phoenix fire department arrived at the hospital to visit “one of their finest” one last time. A hook and ladder truck arrived at the hospital and extended its ladder up to Billy's third floor window. Sixteen firefighters climbed into Billy's room and each one lined up to give Billy a hug. With his dying breath, Billy looked up at the fire chief and said, "Chief, am I really a fireman now?" "Yes Billy, you are. And the Head Chief is holding your hand." Billy smiled and said, "I know, He's been holding my hand all day, and the angels have been singing." Then he closed his eyes one last time.
************
After I forwarded a copy of this story to a friend of mine in Phoenix, he sent it on to a friend of his in Alabama named Cindy. Her response to the article included another touching story about a little girl from her church. With Cindy’s permission, I’d like to share that story with you.
Reading the story of Billy brought tears to my eyes and made me think of the miracle child I know in my life.
We have a little girl in my church who is the world's oldest and might be the only survivor of a rare brain cancer. When she was four, her parents noticed their daughter was limping. She was suddenly diagnosed with a brain tumor and was rushed to St. Jude’s Hospital. Her tumor turned out to be a rare form of cancer, and her prognosis was not good at all. She had surgery, and endured several rounds of chemo that took about nine months to complete.
The side effects of the chemo were devastating, yet she went through it with a strength and endurance most adults would have folded under. She came back, with no hair, stunted growth, pale complexion, and a smile that would light up the entire church. At that time, there were three survivors of this cancer in the world. She seemed to have beaten the cancer until last summer, when her limp came back. She had two more deadly tumors, and was sent back to St. Jude’s for almost another year of surgery and chemo.
As of now, she is cancer free. She walks with a limp and needs a leg brace because one of the newer tumors ate into the motor area of her brain. She is still the size of a four year old, even though she is now eight years old. She wears a hat because all the chemo has pretty much permanently made her lose her hair. She limps up the aisle on her own each Sunday to get Communion, and comes back with that famous smile that lights up the entire church. She has taught us all to embrace life, be joyful for what we have, and to thank God each day for our health, our families, our friends, and all the other blessings we have that we take for granted.
She is a walking miracle that will always touch people's hearts when they meet her. No one knows her future, how long she has to live, if the cancer will return or remain in remission. But, she is content with her life, and never gives up or shows she is down at any time.
Reading the story of Billy brought tears to my eyes and made me think of the miracle child I know in my life.
We have a little girl in my church who is the world's oldest and might be the only survivor of a rare brain cancer. When she was four, her parents noticed their daughter was limping. She was suddenly diagnosed with a brain tumor and was rushed to St. Jude’s Hospital. Her tumor turned out to be a rare form of cancer, and her prognosis was not good at all. She had surgery, and endured several rounds of chemo that took about nine months to complete.
The side effects of the chemo were devastating, yet she went through it with a strength and endurance most adults would have folded under. She came back, with no hair, stunted growth, pale complexion, and a smile that would light up the entire church. At that time, there were three survivors of this cancer in the world. She seemed to have beaten the cancer until last summer, when her limp came back. She had two more deadly tumors, and was sent back to St. Jude’s for almost another year of surgery and chemo.
As of now, she is cancer free. She walks with a limp and needs a leg brace because one of the newer tumors ate into the motor area of her brain. She is still the size of a four year old, even though she is now eight years old. She wears a hat because all the chemo has pretty much permanently made her lose her hair. She limps up the aisle on her own each Sunday to get Communion, and comes back with that famous smile that lights up the entire church. She has taught us all to embrace life, be joyful for what we have, and to thank God each day for our health, our families, our friends, and all the other blessings we have that we take for granted.
She is a walking miracle that will always touch people's hearts when they meet her. No one knows her future, how long she has to live, if the cancer will return or remain in remission. But, she is content with her life, and never gives up or shows she is down at any time.
