There was an open house at the training facility in Overland Park. It was only for special needs kids and their families. Ivan was so excited we had to make a paper chain to help count the days until he could ride in a fire truck. He was very apprehensive when we first arrived. He was terrified that the sirens and horns would be loud. He asked every fireman he saw to "please don't blow the horn". They all promised him they wouldn't.
He got to ride in a fire truck and he got to spray a hose. The Shriners were giving rides in their mini trucks. Ivan went on at least 5 rides! The Children's Mercy life flight helicopter landed within a few feet of where we were standing. He wouldn't climb in the helicopter because "it smells like a pulse oximeter"! We watched the fireman repel down a tower and put out gas fires. Alex and I went up (95 feet) in the bucket of a ladder truck. By the time we left, all the firemen knew Ivan's name and were waving goodbye to him. Can't wait for next year.
