Children really make us stand back & realize how selfish we can be.

[FoxFireEMT]

You know I do my job for many reasons but today, I was shown the TRUE reason why I do this job.

As I got sent to my 5th call of the morning (in a row) I slightly whinned the whole way about how hungry I was & how I will never get anything done back at the station. As I continued complaining/whinning whatever you want to call it, I said how I was just so tired & wanted to go back to bed.

I arrived at the "said" home to be greeted by a VERY upset Mom & Dad to find a very pale, bald sick looking 8 yr old boy. Quick run down this boy has had Leukemia since March & has been fighting a tough battle. Just recently he started suffering from seizures (unknown reason), but they believe its due to his Chemotherapy.

As his parents & I discussed what they wanted to do & where to take him he cried because all he wanted was to play with his cousins & sleep in his own bed. He hasn't been in his own bed (until last night) for the last several months. The poor kid didn't want to go back to the hospital & he looked at me and begged me to give him no needles. He said "I'm just so tired and I just want to stay home." The boy brought tears to my eyes because not long before that I was complaining because I WAS TIRED, I WAS HUNGRY AND I WAS TIRED OF RUNNING AROUND. In reality this boy was the only one who had a reason to complain & be sad.

Point being this little guy made me realize that I (WE), adults can be so selfish sometimes when really we shouldn't be. I know none of our lives are perfect but we are not 8 and dying of cancer. We are not 8 and instead of worrying about our sickness we want to be playing! Kids are wonderful tools in keeping "us" adults straight sometimes!

Thought I would share an event from my eventful day. This boy will hold a special part in my heart. :innocent:

[TheBadLands]

Wow...

That made me tear up a bit

Thank you for sharing that...

*Goes to hug rebelious suspended 10 year old son*

[WashingtonBay]

Yes, once in awhile we get slapped with perspective.

Thanks!

[FoxFireEMT]

I know it. I like to think most of the time I'm usually level headed & realize I got it better then I think I do sometimes but geezzz to catch me off guard like that. Leukemia has touched me personal prior to this & to see another young soul suffer from it just kills me!

His Dad looked at me & said ~ wow your an amazing women. I was like "HUH" I didn't do anything but talk to this boy the whole way to the hospital. His Dad said that by me talking to his son & to HIM (father) I seemed to make things better & even made his "father" realize that we are selfish sometimes! GEEZ all I did was chit chat with this adoreable kid & talk to his father about what I do, how long I've been doing it & how much I love it because kids like him make every minute worth it!

[palomino]

OK, Im teary now. Totally right.

[Stellaluna]

I'm going to go hug and kiss my three girls and thank the Lord they're healthy. :)

[luv2show]

Even to a teenager like myself, this is very meaningful. I too, am teary eyed. I'm going to think of this story next time I think that I have it bad. Thanks so much for posting this.

[FoxFireEMT]

No problem. That's why I post these "special" moments from time to time. Main reason I love my job ~ keeps me in a reality check! I didn't post to make you all teary eyed. Sorry...

[palomino]

ITs ok, FF- I think Im a little post partum LOL.

[Equine_Woman]

Wow. A very good reminder. Sniff. Thanks for sharing your lesson!! It's a good one for all of us!

[Gypsy Rose]

A very good wake up call- next time I'm whining because something isn't going the way I want (slow running computer comes to mind, lol!), I'll remember this lesson.

[lovesfortune]

Thank you for sharing with us. There are definite times in life that make you stand back and say, "I need to make a few adjustments in my life". I've had quite a few this past year. It all makes you a better person.

[mlle_beau]

Oh wow. Thank you so much for sharing, it really does make a person stop and think about how good they really have it compared to so many other people out there. Poor kid...

[vicklynn]

What a special story. Thanks for sharing with us.

[Country Girl 43]

I admire the job you do! And appreciate your willingness to help others! Thanks for sharing!

[SedonaThunder]

Wow. I'm teary eyed now too... if you don't mind, I would like to cut and paste this into an email to send my nonhorsey friends. Thank you for sharing this reminder with us.

[grandmadeb]

Whenever my own girls complain about how "awful" their lives are I remind them that there are children in this would with REAL problems. They are loved, provided for, and healthy. I pray all the time for my girls to be safe and healthy. Everything else can be worked out.

[Tatesgram]

Thanks FF. Children amaze me with how much they can withstand. I remember when my first born was just a little baby, I watched a little boy with leg braces and crutches make his way across an intersection. His mother walking beside him. Doing it on his own. I burst into tears, and thanked God for my healthy little boy.

Sometimes we just need reminders of what we have.

[AppyLover]

Wow...what else is there to say? Thank you for sharing. *sniff*

[CircleR]

So true FoxFire!! All the things we take for granted and whine about. Thanks for the good reminder!! God bless that young boy and his family through their battle.

[FoxFireEMT]

Wow. I'm teary eyed now too... if you don't mind, I would like to cut and paste this into an email to send my nonhorsey friends. Thank you for sharing this reminder with us.
\

Sedona~ I'm completely okay with you doing that.

I got an update on the kid this morning. His father called me personally at the firehouse and told me that they shipped him back up to the childrens hospital where he will stay for at least a few days and continue to be observed. His father said that they are going to do some more MRI's and pray that it's not a tumer in his brain. GROSH, this poor kid. Further more his father told me that all this kid did was talk about me & how nice I was & wished that I could be his nurse all the time. LOL. He thought I was a nurse ~ his father explained to him that I'm in nursing school but I am not a nurse yet, just an EMT. His father said the boy looked at him straight in the face & said ~ DAD she might "ONLY" be an EMT but she helped me & was very nice & didn't stick me with any needles. LOL! Cute kid. Then he asked his Dad that when he got better & came back home if he could come see me at the fire house!

Boy I can't wait to see this kid again!

My prayers go out to this family.