Have you ever pulled a firetruck?
After taking part in the Mission Firehall’s Firetruck Pull for Muscular Dystrophy and putting my muscles to the test, I can tell you it’s no easy thing.
It began when I was driving by the firehall and saw a sign advertising the event. I emailed for details, mentioning that my son was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy. A fireman named Andrew responded, saying he was embarrassed that he didn’t know a lot about MD, and that he was “just a fireman” organizing the event at the last minute. He said he wanted to do something that would make a difference to a kid like Elijah. Andrew then invited Elijah to join the station’s pull team.
I talked to Andrew a few times before we met. A week before the event he showed up outside our house, in a firetruck, with a few other guys. They were dropping off a shirt and introducing themselves. Andrew is a tough guy with tattoos and a big heart. He told me that he’d decided to find a way to raise extra money to get Eli a modified bike. That would be $4,000, but his mind was made up.
Four times in three days I had firetrucks outside of my house. Once, a neighbour came out because he thought his shed might be on fire. When Elijah was invited to be on Global News, the two other firemen involved in organizing the event, Richard and Mike, picked us up, handsome in their official suits, and drove us to Burnaby in a firetruck.
They were like two buddies at recess, equally excited about being on television, and riding a firetruck down the freeway. Every boy’s dream.
Elijah was quite pleased with himself, sitting up front, pressing the siren button, and laughing as Richard gave him instructions on how to be a fireman. They were like two buddies at recess, equally excited about being on television, and riding a firetruck down the freeway. Every boy’s dream.
After the interview, Richard drove us to McDonald’s, having promised Eli an Egg McMuffin. The truck caused a spectacle in the parking lot, but we were given our breakfast for free. I was dropped off at home, and Elijah hung out with the firemen for the rest of the day. The smile on his face made my day.
The actual event was an amazing day for the community. These guys went all out with a bouncy castle, a dunk tank (Elijah’s favourite part of the day), food, and entertainment. Different businesses came out with ice cream and smoothies, donating their profits to the bike fund. It showed me that most people are just waiting for opportunities to give of themselves.
How can I accurately describe the eight other pull teams? Well, one was from a fitness centre, huge muscles bulging through their shirts. There were other firemen, and a football team. And then there was us; my brother, nephew, cousins, sister-in-law, friends from church, and Peter Lee, a seminarian who’s at our church for the summer. We finished second to last. I don't know why.
At the beginning of the day, Andrew took the stage. He held his boot in one arm, and the microphone in the other. He stuffed some bills in, and told everyone that he wanted the boot full. He told them that he wanted Elijah to get that bike. He pointed out the nearest banks and said he would take their cards and make withdrawals for them. Everyone laughed, but then they did exactly what he asked. I think he's the kind of guy people comply with. He spent the day walking around with that boot, for my son, a kid he only met a few days beforehand. It’s a beautiful picture in my mind.
These guys took Elijah into their hearts. I know that without him, the event would still have taken place, and I’m sure it would have been just as great. Maybe having a little guy there made it more meaningful and fun for them, gave them a bit of motivation. But what they did for Elijah on what he calls “probably the best day of my life” was a wonderful witness to self-sacrifice and selflessness. These guys took a boy they didn’t know and made him theirs.
I was given the chance to say a few words at one point. I wanted to express my gratitude for the gift they had given us. So, I told them that I had two things to share; one negative, and one positive.
I said that when Elijah was diagnosed with MD, the doctor asked me, while Eli sat there on my lap looking at her, if I would abort any other boys that I might conceive (MD mostly affects males, and is usually hereditary).
I told the crowd that at that moment I knew this woman was not truly on Elijah’s team. Perhaps she was interested in “curing” him, but only for science’s sake, not because she valued the gift of his life.
That was the negative. But then I shared about a priest’s prayer, asking that my son would have the gift of a childhood. And I told them a part of the prayer was answered that day, because Elijah was invited to be a part of something full of joy. He was invited to be a part of their team, and to just have a ton of fun with a bunch of guys. Those men went out of their way to show Elijah that he was authentically cared for, cured or not.
I thank God for these firemen. We should all be praying for them, especially with the sacrifices and efforts these past weeks dealing with the wildfires.
But I thank God specifically for their hearts, because it was through them that I saw God’s love for my son.