Courage for Kyle. Get your bracelet. Here's an update from Barnegat, New Jersey.
Listen to the interview with Kyle and Gene McGetrick
Order your Courage for Kyle bracelet via PayPal
Address to send patches – Barnegat Fire Company No.1, P.O. Box 539, Barnegat, New Jersey 08005 (write "Kyle" on the envelope)
Read original story with hundreds of your comments on Glenn Usdin's FireTruckBlog.com
I hope many of you heard the interview with 11-year-old Kyle McGetrick last week on Jim Duffy and Anthony Avillo's Fire Engineering Talk Radio show. If, like me, you listened to every word of it, you realize what a remarkable young man Kyle is. Here's the link, in case you missed it.
For those who don't know, Kyle is the son of Barnegat Fire Company Firefighter Gene McGetrick (while overshadowed by his son during the interview, you will find that Gene is pretty amazing himself). Kyle has been fighting an extremely difficult battle with cancer since he was four. The prognosis is not good, but Kyle's outlook and bravery are something to marvel at. During the interview, his father told the recent story of how Kyle wanted to get back home from the hospital right away when having a PICC line inserted into his chest. Rather than wait for an anesthesiologist, which would delay his departure, Kyle insisted on getting it done without anesthesia.
When Jim and Anthony were talking about a recent large fire in New Jersey, without missing a beat, Kyle immediately asked them if all the firefighters got home safely. While we are worried about him, Kyle's focus is on the firefighters.
For those who may not be familiar with our coverage of Kyle, the Barnegat Fire Company put on what they thought would be a small pre-Christmas parade of fire trucks in front of the boy's house. Before it was done, 100 fire vehicles from Ocean County, New Jersey went by the house. Then, after Glenn Usdin's FireTruckBlog.com brought that story to the fire service, a virtual parade started as firefighters from around the world sent hundreds of messages and patches to Kyle.
Kyle said he's received more than 500 patches. Kyle greatly appreciates the generosity and loves going through the patches, but said on the radio show that the one from Station 11 (Barnegat Fire Company) is still his favorite. Who can blame him?
Now comes word that you can purchase a Courage for Kyle bracelet.for $5 each. Here is the link.
And here is the official message of thanks from Kyle that is posted on Station 11's website:
Kyle would like to tell thank you to everyone who sent patches, shirts, and helmets. He enjoys having his dad reading the letters he received, and loves seeing where all the fire departments are from. Humbled and affected by such an outpouring of support from our brothers and sisters.
But if you want to hear Kyle and his dad tell you themselves, I encourage you to take the time to listen to the interview.
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