THE STORY OF COLBY CURTIN

This is a touching story about a little girl who is sicken by a terminal stage cancer. You may have heard about it or you may not. In case you haven't keep reading and even if you have heard about it please give your prayer and hearts for the following story.

This is Colby Curtin, a 10-year-old girl from California, USA. In 2005, she was diagnosed with a rare malignancy known as vascular cancer. Since that day, Colby has been embarking a painful life with the malignancy slowly creeping into her.

Last April, she saw the preview for the movie "Up". Of course, "Up" is the current animation movie we have been greatly talking about - the awesomeness and touching of inner sense that the movie have provided. Since then, Colby was very eager to go and watch the movie.

Colby's mother, Lisa asked if she could hang on until the movie is released in June (In US, Up was released on June 5). Little Lisa replied, "I'm ready (to die), but I'm going to wait for the movie." It is apparent that Colby did not ask for anything but only the movie "Up" to come to the theater.

However, as the movie release was closing by, so did Colby's health as the condition began to deteriorate. Without anywhere to turn to, on June 4, Lisa asked a hospice company to bring her daughter, a wheelchair for little Colby to ride on to the movie theater. Alas, the wheelchair was not delivered. Colby was too sick to go to the theater.

Then, a family friend of Curtin, called both Pixar and Disney, which owns the animation to notify them about the dying child with her last wish for watching "Up". The Pixar officials were alerted and agreed to send someone to Colby's house the next day.

The next day, someone from Pixar arrived. Along with the employee, a DVD for private screening specially given to little Colby to watch, stuffed animals of characters and other movie memorabilia.

However, Colby was too sick that she could not open her eyes to watch the movie. She was in agony, in pain. Her mother had to describe to her the scenes from the movie. When Lisa asked if Colby enjoyed it, she nodded.

After the movie ended, the employee's eye was welled up and red - could not resisted the painful emotional to see how agony Colby was. But maybe it is a fate that Colby would not survived the night. Colby, with her parents nearby, died later that night.

Her mother said one of the memorabilia left by the Pixar employee was an "adventure book" based on a scrapbook that, in the movie, is kept by the wife of the main character. "I'll have to fill those adventures in for her," Lisa Curtin said of her daughter.

"When I watched it, I had really no idea about the content of the theme of the movie," Colby's mother told the Register. "I just know that word 'Up' and all of the balloons and I swear to you, for me it meant that (Colby) was going to go up. Up to heaven."

I hope after you read this story, you will start to appreciate our life and be it more meaningfully.

Dear Colby Curtin,

May God Bless You

References:

1. http://gaigeredd.com/robotcarnage/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/b78520212z120090622094247000g4jiepgg1_lg.jpg
2. http://images.ocregister.com/newsimages/2009/06/22/b78520212z120090622094247000g4jiepfr1_lg.jpg
3. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HjjdydyWZQ&NR=1
4. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/20/colby-curtin-california-g_n_218451.html
5. http://www.nowpublic.com/culture/colby-curtin-pixar-grants-dying-girls-wish-see-movie

PS...PEXTON, ME AND YOU: PART ONE

PART ONE - HOW DID HE GET IN?

Jim and Rachel are like every typical young couple. They are so deep in love to each other, sharing their every most available time together, just graduated from their high school, and now looking forward into a more challenging adult life.

Jim and Rachel share a lot of commons and passions. One of them is the love to animals. It was early in December, and the young couple had just started their relationship for not even two months but they had already set themselves goals for life. Commitment is the best word to describe it all, something very much lacking in the love relationship of many these days.

That early chilly December afternoon, while strolling on a busy street at the downtown, Jim suggested to his love of his life a proposal that even she could hardly resist. "You know, my uncle used to say, having a pet is like having a baby." With a cynical look, Rachel quickly said, "Just a pet, okay. Nothing more than that in your mind."

"Please don't get me wrong, dear. I'm talking about adopting a pet!"

"Really?"

"Yes. Which is why I'm going to bring you to a place. It is just right in front."

Jim held Rachel's palm and guided her to few shop units in front. Right at the corner of that busy street, they stopped, right in front of a glass door with silver frames that illuminates something cuddles and lovable. Suddenly Jim noticed a change in Rachel's face. She smiled and her face was filled with more joy and sweetness than ever. Jim knew that he had just made his princess the day to remember.

"Oh my God, Jim. You have been planning on this?"

"As a matter of fact I did," said Jim. "Come. Let us walk inside."

They pulled the sliding glass door and quickly the barks, chips and meows sound filled the atmosphere. "This is the best pet shop in town, dear," said Jim while continued to guide Rachel to their perhaps most loved section in the shop.

At that moment, Rachel was so in joyous and excitement that she eventually found herself in a wonderland.

"Rachel, choose one."

"No, we choose one."

After an hour of searching, deciding and tossing all the options, eventually one little pug captured Rachel's heart. Jim was looking into her eyes and he quickly saw all the joy in Rachel. He knew at that moment, that little cuddle creature will become part of their life. After an extra consultation by the shop owner whom even taught this young couple all that was necessary and what was important in taking care a little pug, they decided that was it.

While walking their way home, the sun began to set its way down. Jim was carrying the basket, where the little pug was inside it taking a lazy late afternoon nap. "He is adorable, dear." Rachel could not hide anymore of her feeling and Jim knew that she was in heaven.

"Rach, I know. I also know that this pug will be part of us, part of our world." Deep inside their heart, they realized that the little pug is not just another family member in their own world, but represents something more - a symbol of compassion, devout, responsibility and commitment.

They went back into Rachel's home for dinner. After that full and satisfying meal, Rachel walked up to Jim and asked where should the little pug stayed. Jim knew that this will be hard, but somehow Jim allowed the pug stays with Rachel.

"But we still have no name for him, dear."

Rachel was right. They still have not decided a name for their latest addition in the family.

"Max?"

"Jim, it's too common. How about Spike?"

"Spike. He does not have a spiky feature."

"Jim, I know. Pixie!!"

"Rachel dear, do I need to remind you that this poor guy deserved a better name than that."

The list of name just kept throwing in, until one name which Rachel thought would be unique. "Pexton?". Rachel nodded. "It sounds cool, unique and seriously I never heard of it."

Rachel just smiled and said, "Well now you know."

"Te queiro, mi amor," uttered Rachel whom is fluent in Spanish too.

"Me too."

At least that night, Jim and Rachel had managed to settle the name of their little 4-months old pug. But they knew the days after that will be a challenge for them to handle the naughty monster - perhaps, monster in an adorable manner. The following days, Pexton had been deeply pampered, cuddled and loved by the couple. Yet Jim and Rachel continues their hectic life, juggling the balance of study, Pexton and for each other.

However, life can be at the top or it can be at the bottom of a wheel, sometimes and most of the time.

-- END OF PART ONE --

Originally,
GREEN TEA

*Note: This short story is written in a deeply inspiring moment for the author. Don't ask why! Here is some preview of Part 2 - the couple's relationship is turning a little sour but yet Pexton is the one that continues to bridge them together.