I Wish to be a Fireman

The story of one little boy, dying of cancer has had an impact on the entire Make-A-Wish community that will last a lifetime. Back in 1978, Frank ‘Bospy’ Salazar, Make-a-Wish’s first wish kid was diagnosed with leukemia at the age of five. Doctors told his mother that he didn’t have much time and that he needed to be checked into a hospital as soon as possible. Salazar’s mother, Octaviana who was a 26-year-old single mother with no health insurance was scared but checked him in anyway. Over the next few years, Frank Barannco, his doctor and the one who would soon introduce the Sazaar family to someone who would make his last few days count, treated Bopsy. With not a lot of time left for Bopsy, his mother asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up. His response was simple; he wanted to be a fireman.

Later that afternoon, Bopsy’s mom reached out to the local fire department and asked for one tiny request; she asked if they could take her dying son on a ride on the fire truck. What the Phoenix Fire Department did that day was above and beyond their call, getting Bopsy a custom fit uniform, making him an honorary fireman and allowing him to ride along on three emergency calls that day. A few days later, as Bospy’s final few minutes were approaching quickly, a nurse from the hospital called the fire department back and asked if one of their men could be there when Bopsy passed away. The department responded immediately and had not one, but five firefighters climb the ladder and through the hospital window to comfort Bopsy. To learn more on this touching story that has changed the lives of so many people, please click here.