cancer
LA comedian (after reading this, you can add "wonderful human being") Laurie Kilmartin's father is in the final stages of an aggressive lung cancer. She's taking to twitter to write about her experiences in the only way she knows how. What happens is something equal parts darkly comedic and absolutely loving. Check out some choice selections here:
Hat tip to Uproxx.
By Unknown
Watch the entire allergy-inducing video here. Fair warning, it's pretttty touching:
Picture courtesy of Uproxx.
Via VancityReynolds
Ryan Reynolds' dear friend, 13-year-old Connor McGrath just passed away after battling cancer for multiple years. The following was posted by Reynolds on his Facebook page, following McGrath's passing:
For three straight years, my friend, Connor McGrath drop-kicked cancer... Not sure how... Maybe the cancer cheated... But the fight came to an end two nights ago.
In my wildest dreams, I can't imagine how hard this is for his parents Kim and Gerald - along with his extended family in Newfoundland.
Connor was 13. But this kid... He was smart. He was funny. And not just funny 'for a kid' - or funny 'for a person battling something awful'. He was unqualified funny. He had that... thing.
That thing you see in great performers or comedy writers. A running commentary/observational skill people are just lucky to be born with.
He went way too early and it's impossible to reconcile. Connor was a great friend, a great son, and a light to the people lucky enough to know him. While repeatedly punching cancer in the balls, he made everyone laugh. Including the entire staff who cared for him at Edmonton's Stollery Children's Hospital.
It was the Make-A-Wish Foundation that brought us together. I can't thank them enough. Seriously. Thank you. Because of his wish, Connor was the first person to see Deadpool. I traveled up to Edmonton, Alberta to surprise him with a rough cut of the film. There were still huge sections with wires we hadn't yet painted out, jokes which weren't working (and still aren't) and green screens. Connor didn't seem to mind. And I'd never felt luckier to get to be Wade Wilson.
***Before you jump down my throat for showing a 13 year old an R-Rated film, please know this kid knew more swear words than a British chef.
I went back to Edmonton 6 weeks later and I wish I could say things were looking up. After my visit, I didn't know if I was saying goodbye or see ya later. Sitting here now, I realize it was both.
I'm grateful I got to orbit Connor's world for a brief time. Grateful for the pages and pages of hilarious texts between us. Grateful to his parents for allowing Connor to spend time with a foul-mouthed child in the body of a 39 year old.
I called Connor, "Bubba". And he called me "Bubba2". We met because he loved Deadpool. In a certain sense he WAS Deadpool. Or, at least everything Deadpool aspires to be; balancing pain, fearlessness, love and a filthy (filthy!) sense of humor in one body. I wish he could've stuck around a lot longer.
If you'd like to donate to The Make-A-Wish Foundation, I can pretty much guarantee, your money's going to a damn good place. These people do not suck. They are heroic. Full stop. http://makeawishna.ca/wishes/donate
My deepest condolences and thanks to Kim, Gerald and the entire clan McGrath -- who loved this little boy so very well. And thankfully, Connor knew it.
See ya down the road, Bubba.
- r
Via @theshando
Shannen Doherty has been very open with fans since being diagnosed with breast cancer. She posted this series of photos of her getting her head shaved on her Instagram.
She also included the picture above right before the black and white series of photos with the caption:
Cupcake pan, chocolates and a razor.... Stay tuned.
Via Uproxx
The mother of Hazel Hammersley, a young cancer patient at Los Angeles's Children's Hospital, passed the time by jokingly requesting a pizza delivery on the window to her child's room. When anonymous internet donations started bringing in pie after pie, the entire fourth floor of the hospital was able to join in on a pizza party!
Get the whole story and more pictures over at Uproxx!
Robert and his dog have been together since she was a puppy and he intends to keep it that way! Bella was diagnosed with cancer, which took her leg. The vet gave her only 3-6 months to live, but here she is 14 months later and on the adventure of a lifetime! You can follow Rob and Bella's journey here and here.
Via wensenrijders
The 54-year-old keeper, Mario, has worked at the zoo for almost 25 years and now has terminal cancer. He asked to be taken to the giraffe enclosure one last time to say goodbye to the animals.
