Related Sections: Movies News Opinion
Terminally ill California girl gets dying wish to see Up
Every now and then, we find a story that underscores why we do what we do here, and this is one. It's the story of a terminally ill 10-year-old California girl whose last wish was to screen the Disney/Pixar movie Up and the noble people at Pixar who granted it just in time.
The story's been the buzz of the Internet since it broke on the Associated Press (via The Orange County Register) last week. We don't need to go into the details—mainly because they tear our hearts out—but here's the gist:
Colby Curtin desperately wanted to see Up, but the cancer-stricken girl was too sick to go to a theater. Thanks to a family friend who got in touch with the movie studio Pixar, an employee of the Emeryville, Calif.,-based company arrived at Colby's home with a DVD copy of the movie. Because she was too ill to keep her eyes open, Colby's mom described the movie to her as it played. Asked afterward if she enjoyed the movie, the girl nodded. She died later that night.
Here's what's sad and awful and wonderful about this story, aside from the obvious. It shows there are still people—even in Hollywood—who care more about a child's dying wish than they do about money or copyrights or legal niceties. It shows that a film story still has the power to give hope and comfort and joy and solace to people in the most extreme circumstances.
And it shows that Up really is something special: The message of the movie, after all, is that even in the depths of loss and grief, love can reach across the vastness of time and space to touch us, to allow us to go on. Love is the true adventure.
By Tekzel at 4:22 PM ON 06/20/09
Man, I gotta tell you. I am a grown damn man, not given to emotional displays, but this story made my eyes well up.
By TBDragonmMan at 6:21 PM ON 06/20/09
Gratz ro Pixar!!! Happy little girl up in Heaven because of you guys!!!
By Pinky at 6:31 PM ON 06/20/09
Thank you Pixar for making that little girls wish come true.
By Niveno9 at 6:50 PM ON 06/20/09
That story warms my heart and restores my faith in humanity.
By tileman17 at 8:02 PM ON 06/20/09
so sad to young to soon sleep well baby girl!
By Beldaran at 8:36 PM ON 06/20/09
Thanks, SciFi, for posting this story. Big HUGE good Karma points to Pixar.
By JackSwigert at 9:03 PM ON 06/20/09
This is the first decently written article that I've seen to date on this site. Good job!
By Eldon at 10:56 PM ON 06/20/09
Hey guys, thanks so much for this story. It makes me believe that love and generosity are still alive.
By Pete at 1:04 AM ON 06/21/09
May this child rest in the arms of the Lord.
My sincere condolinces to the Parents
By Big Bad Wolf at 1:24 AM ON 06/21/09
Hey Tekzel, I'm a grown man too and a US Marine...and this story made my eyes swell as well. This just shows humanity isn't all bad when you get down to it.
By Shadow7901 at 4:40 AM ON 06/21/09
I think what kletois is saying out of line and disrespectful to the dead. That girl was only alive for 10 years and for her life to be cut short like that is tragic, my heart goes out to her family. Many of us have experienced things that she will never will be able to. Let her rest in peace.
By Mandy at 5:23 AM ON 06/21/09
The end of any life is terrible and tragic. I am just glad the little girl got to watch the movie she wanted to see first.
It's so senseless that a child should suffer....
'Come away, O human child!
To the waters and the wild
With a faery, hand in hand,
For the world's more full of weeping than you can understand.' - quote from William Butler Yeats.
By j-dub at 6:34 AM ON 06/21/09
@kletois
No one here is saying that the loss of one human being over the other is any less emotional than the other. Pipe down and keep your disrespect, disdain and bitterness to yourself.
By sigh at 11:11 AM ON 06/21/09
"At what stage of a human's life do we stop getting emotional when that person dies? Why grant a 10 yr old a wish and not, say, a 67 yr old?"
I guess the stage you're currently in.
It was a wonderful story. And if it had been about a 67 yr old it would have been a nice story. Different, still nice.
By greenhornet482 at 1:44 PM ON 06/21/09
Its never easy to lose a loved one especially one so young. I will be keeping the parents of the little girl in my prayers as I know all of us will be. I hope they can take some solace that they are not alone.
By Anthony at 4:11 PM ON 06/21/09
This happens all the time on forums all over the net. Some unfortunate person passes away and there are always a few comments made asking why the rest of us are making a big deal over a death when thousands of people die every day.
Do I think her life is more important than anyone else? Of course not. But she only lived to 10 and most of those years were painful. To me , shes well worth the tears I shed and my respect. She was a little trooper , I can't imagine how I would react to a cancer diagnoses and I have lived for 44 years. I feel sad for her and any and all other children that suffer and don't get to live to adulthood and beyond.
By Mike at 5:36 PM ON 06/21/09
Yes, more deeds like this! way to go pixar. thanks! mike from the netherlands
By misteredj at 5:15 AM ON 06/22/09
Having known a poor beautiful little girl that died from cancer that passed before I could say goodbye to her, I find this very moving. It bring back alot of painful memories. I am glad that the girl was able to have her wish granted. Those of you that don't know the differences between a 10 yr old and a 67 yr old is that one person barley has lived their life and one just started. While either dying is sad, one will not get to drive a car , experience a first love, and plenty of other things that some of us have taken for granted.
By daniela at 7:02 PM ON 06/22/09
wow if i had one wish is to ask her to come back when i heard this story i wanted to tell everyone
By Neal at 9:57 PM ON 06/22/09
This is so sad that this beautiful little girl had such a simple wish , and Pixar showed that they have huge hearts to grant her that wish. With all the misery there is in this world, stories like this make you stop and be thankful for what you have.
By Deagra at 4:27 AM ON 06/23/09
Well done Pixar, you never cease to amaze.
By Uber Critic at 5:44 AM ON 06/23/09
An angel has been born. Blessings to her andher family...and thank you to Pixar!!!
Visit mobile.syfy.com/wire on your mobile device.
Uber Critic :
An angel has been born. Blessings to her andher family...and thank you to Pixar!!!...More »