ActionScript 3.0 :: Using URLLoader For MySQL Queries?

The basics of my problem is I need to have actionscript query a MySQL server. I figured the best way to do this was create a Database class that will hold several static methods for the various queries. I created the PHP program necessary to run the queries, and the MySQL database (no problem there). I also figured out the basics of URLLoader to get the info back from the PHP. Now lastly, I am trying to figure out the best way to make the data usable.

Essentially the flow I wanted was the static method in the Database class would return the result of the query (e.g. return user's name) so in the main class I would just write something like firstName=Database.getFirstname(idNumber);. However, I quickly learned this may be impossible since the loader obviously takes some time to load everything and storing and manipulating the data is best done through a Event.COMPLETE event. Is there a way to have a function pause and not run subsequent lines until an event occurs? The ideal function would look like this I guess

Code:
private static variable url:String = "phpFilesUrl.com"
public static function getFirstName(id:String):String

[code].....