Ironworks Gaming Forum - Why J.K. Rowling is my new hero (besides Harry Potter)

Ironworks Gaming Forum (http://www.ironworksforum.com/forum/index.php)

- General Conversation Archives (11/2000 - 01/2005) (http://www.ironworksforum.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=28)

- - Why J.K. Rowling is my new hero (besides Harry Potter) (http://www.ironworksforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=86651)

This story is a real tear-jerker, or it was for me.

This is the full article:
http://www.time.com/time/covers/1101030623/story.html

Quote:

On the same summer day that 6-year-old Catie Hoch beat her own personal best jumping rope—100 in a row—the doctors discovered that the pain in her side was coming from a tumor on her kidney. "In that split second," her mother Gina Peca remembers, "your whole life changes. You're going along safety-proofing your house and trying to feed your kids the right food, thinking you have control over their safety, and you don't."

There was even less control over the course of the next two years as the cancer spread, through seven rounds of chemo, three operations on Catie's lungs and one on her liver. It was during that time that Gina began to read aloud the first three books about a schoolboy wizard named Harry Potter, who knew something about fighting fierce, deadly enemies. Maybe that's why, when they took the train from their home in upstate New York to New York City for treatment, Catie wore a red cape, red lightning-shaped scar on her forehead, a wand and big black glasses. She was ready for anything.

In January 2000, when it seemed as if her treatment options had run out, Catie was back home, her chances of living to read Book 4 looking very slim. That is when an e-mail arrived from someone in Britain who had heard about the 8-year-old girl in New York who loved Harry so much. "I am working very hard on Book 4 at the moment," the author confided, and she talked about the chapter she was writing, how the werewolf professor Lupin was one of her favorite characters, and about some new creatures who would be making their debut. "This is all TOP SECRET," she warned, so Catie could tell her family but nobody else, "or you'll be getting an owl from the Ministry of Magic for giving our secrets away to Muggles." It was signed, "With Lots of Love, J.K. Rowling (Jo to anybody in Gryffindor)."

Over the next days and weeks, Catie wrote to her new friend about her birthday party; her friends; her new dog, Potter Gryffindor Hoch (the first name after Harry's surname and the middle one after the dormitory house in which he lives at school). She seemed to be getting stronger, brighter, in her excitement about her new pen pal. Jo wrote back at length, typing from her home in Scotland as the windows rattled in the January gales. "It's a bit spooky," she wrote one night. "I sleep at the top of the house (like Ron) and when it's stormy like tonight I keep waking up wondering what creaked ... you see, I'm not as brave as Harry—if you told me there was a gigantic snake wandering around at night where I was living, I'd hide under the bedclothes and let someone else sort it out." Jo was candid about other things that frightened her. "I don't mind talking to big groups of people your age at all, because you ask interesting questions, but talking to adults scares me."

Gina watched the friendship unfold, watched a stuffed owl and a toy ginger cat arrive in the mail as gifts. "I couldn't believe it when the first e-mail arrived, but what I really couldn't believe was that they kept it up," she says. "This wasn't a once or twice 'I heard a little girl was sick, and I sent a get-well note.' To me it was a relationship. I don't know what Jo was thinking, but she was taking time out of a very, very busy schedule to write precious e-mails to Catie."
-snip-

When the moment comes that parents must trust their children's hearts to another, they pray that whoever fills that space—a teacher, a coach, a character in a book—will be worthy of the power and will use it well. A month after Catie Hoch's ninth birthday, doctors found that the cancer had spread to her brain and that she had only a few weeks left. That was when the phone rang.

Over the next few days, Rowling read aloud to Catie from Book 4, which was finally finished but would not be released until summer. "She was lying on the couch," Gina says, remembering how her daughter was transported, "just listening and listening." The family resisted putting the call on the speaker phone. "That was Catie's time with Jo," Gina says. "We didn't want to intrude on their privacy." The last few times Rowling called, Catie was too sick to come to the phone. She drifted into a coma and died on May 18, 2000.

Rowling wrote to her parents three days later. "I consider myself privileged to have had contact with Catie," she wrote. "I can only aspire to being the sort of parent both of you have been to Catie during her illness. I am crying so hard as I type. She left footprints on my heart all right." Catie's parents established the Catie Hoch Foundation to help young cancer patients. In November a check for $100,000 appeared, from Catie's favorite English friend.

Thanks for sharing that. Dang, where is a kleenex when you need one?



[ 06-18-2003, 04:31 AM: Message edited by: Finn ]

I ugh (sniff) yeah - good story dude [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img]

That is a very touching story, Chewbacca. Thank you very much for sharing it.

It goes to show that J. K. Rowling is truly a class act. [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img]

That's a nice one. it's good to know that J. K. Rowling care for people.

That was the most touching story I have read in a long time. [img]graemlins/crying.gif[/img]

That was bittersweet [img]smile.gif[/img]

It goes to show famous people are just real people.

You bastard! I'm at work, and how the heck can I go out of my cube all
tearey eyed and blubbery...

sounds to me like JK has a verry good heart...good read Chewie bad timing ;)

I am sending this to all the people that think that she is evil and trying to hurt little kids. Living in the Bible Belt and liking H.P. is not easy.

Thanks!

Nice to read something that makes me proud to be a human being for once. What a kind gesture on J.K Rowling's part, good stuff.

Very touching story. I've heard it before, but it's still just as moving. Sadly, the stomach ache reminds me of how things started with my young cousin. She just went through another round of surgery last week. She's out of ICU but still has a long road to recovery. Right now, on top of everything else, she's having to work on breathing because of a collapsed lung. It's nice to know there are those out there like Ms. Rowling who care enough about these children to do such a wonderful act of kindness.
I'm an athiest, but God bless her just the same.

I listen to a Christian radio station at work (104.7 the Fish out of Atlanta, GA). Today, a familiar song came on - one that I've heard before, but never really listened to. For some reason, my attention was captured by the lyrics this morning and I actually listened to the song instead of just "hearing" it. It absolutely broke my heart and I still have tears in my eyes just thinking about the words.

It is sung by an artist named Mark Schultz and goes hand-in-hand with the theme of this thread - so I've listed the lyrics below. As powerful as they are by themselves, Mark's soulful vocals give them a haunting quality that will tear your heart out.

So I offer these lyrics as a memorial to Catie Hoch and as an ongoing prayer to all the children and their loved ones who are facing the unimaginable tragedy of a terminal illness. May God hold each of them near His heart.

He's My Son
from "Mark Schultz"
by Mark Schultz 

I'm down on my knees again tonight
I'm hoping this prayer will turnout right
See there is a boy that needs your help
I've done all that I can do myself
His mother is tired
I'm sure you can understand
Each night as he sleeps
She goes in to hold his hand
And she tries not to cry
As the tears fill her eyes

Can you hear me?
Am I getting through tonight?
Can you see him?
Can you make him feel all right?
If you can hear me
Let me take his place somehow
See, he's not just anyone
He's my son

Sometimes late at night I watch him sleep
I dream of the boy he'd like to be
I try to be strong and see him through
But God who he needs right now is You
Let him grow old
Live life without fear
What would I be
Living without him here
He's so tired and he's scared
Let him know that You're there

{repeat chorus}

Can you hear me?
Can you see him?
Please don't leave him
He's my son.

That's a real touching song Cerek. Thanks for adding to the theme.

The full Time article had a little piece about a church who actually used HP as part of Sunday School. I found that facinating and heart-warming. As you may know from other discussions on the the topic of religion/spirituality that I am pretty much a Witch, although I have no gripes with the honest and personal practice of Christianity. For a large Christian church to turn away from, IMHO, incorrectly and innaccurately calling HP a book full of Witchcraft and instead looking for and promoting the good values in the books really makes me happy.

Here is the exerpt:

Quote:

Perhaps the most surprising appropriation of Rowling's world took place at the conservative Vanguard Church in suburban Colorado Springs, Colo. Housed in an old movie theater, the six-year-old church has 1,100 members, including lots of young families. Using Harry Potter to teach Sunday school was the brainchild of Tosha Williams, the petite young wife of senior pastor Kelly Williams. "That's one thing about Southern Baptists—we're very pragmatic," she notes, "and our goal is to reach people with the Gospel." So the teachers dressed as wizards, and the church was entirely decorated, with darkened rooms and glow-in-the-dark props and hot dogs renamed goblin fingers. When the kids put on the Sorting Hat that determines the fate of young wizards in the book, they were all put in Slytherin, the home of the evil Voldemort; the way out, they were taught, could only come from following what God teaches. "I have never seen children so excited about a church event, just absolutely mesmerized," Williams says. And what did they learn from it all? "No one can do miracles but God," says Abigail Haggerty, 5. "It showed how Harry Potter's mom sacrificed her life for Harry, as God sacrificed his life for us," says America Copeland, 9.

Quote:

Originally posted by harleyquinn:
Very touching story. I've heard it before, but it's still just as moving. Sadly, the stomach ache reminds me of how things started with my young cousin. She just went through another round of surgery last week. She's out of ICU but still has a long road to recovery. Right now, on top of everything else, she's having to work on breathing because of a collapsed lung. It's nice to know there are those out there like Ms. Rowling who care enough about these children to do such a wonderful act of kindness.
I'm an athiest, but God bless her just the same.

I wish your cousin the very best and the quickest road to recovery, harleyquinn.

Quote:

Originally posted by Chewbacca:
<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by harleyquinn:
Very touching story. I've heard it before, but it's still just as moving. Sadly, the stomach ache reminds me of how things started with my young cousin. She just went through another round of surgery last week. She's out of ICU but still has a long road to recovery. Right now, on top of everything else, she's having to work on breathing because of a collapsed lung. It's nice to know there are those out there like Ms. Rowling who care enough about these children to do such a wonderful act of kindness.
I'm an athiest, but God bless her just the same.

I wish your cousin the very best and the quickest road to recovery, harleyquinn. [/QUOTE]Thanks. We're all pulling for her. She's got quite the resolve and determination to beat this. It's amazing to find in a 6 year old.

Very touching story Chewbacca and I just have to listen to that song Cerek, thanks for sharing 'em both with us... [img]graemlins/sadcrying4.gif[/img]

Touching mate, good read. :D

It's stories like these which show if a popular person has decided to still be a person or switch to just being popular instead.
There are a lot of stars out there who donate money for PR reasons but it takes a lot more effort and integrity to do something real yourself like JK Rowling did in this case.
Talking about Harry Potter:
These books are the best new books for kids since long because they do NOT just tell a story but also convey values which can be spotted in the details.

Quote:

Originally posted by Lovisa:
Very touching story Chewbacca and I just have to listen to that song Cerek, thanks for sharing 'em both with us... [img]graemlins/sadcrying4.gif[/img]

Here is a link to several clips by Mark Schultz. He's My Son is on the second album and you will need RealPlayer to listen to it. Listen to some of his other clips too...he is a truly gifted singer and songwriter.

Mark Schultz Music clips

A beutifull and moving song Cerek, thankyou [img]graemlins/heee.gif[/img]