Too Important For A Young Boy With Cancer

Young boys growing up often idolize sports stars and action film stars. In the case of a 10 year old boy suffering from Leukemi, his hero is Ina Garten, a star with the Food Network. He made two requests to be able to cook with his heroine on the Food Network Television Show thru The Make A Wish Foundation. Even if Ina had ice running thru her veins, does she not get the positive publicity such a move would bring?

This is incredibly shortsighted and wrong. Are you so important you can't grant a dying boy one last wish? Tell me you are not that arrogant. He asked twice and you failed him twice. Cancer affects us all and we all have had ties to people that have died from it and survived it. Their experiences are gut wrenching. Cancer has become very common and scary for that matter. Ina's Public Relations Representative came up with the excuse that you Ina can't honor every request you receive. While that is true, I do wonder how many requests you get by young boys with cancer to cook with you. It can't be that many and the request is something you have the ability to honor without a whole lot of effort. Hey Ina, what you and your ignorant publicity rep should understand is that you wouldn't have to make any extra time other than to include the boy in your show. Perhaps we should send the both of you down the yellow brick road to the wizzard for a heart. Most people enjoy charitable work, especially when it involves kids.

As for the boy, with his back up wish he has chosen to swim with dolphins. Sad to say but dolphins that are forced in to captivity will show this child more love than you. This disconnect we have with the value of life and other people in our society is tearing us a part. Your ambivalence toward this sick child is both disgusting and incomprehendable and you should be ashamed. For those of us that have not experienced cancer, we are fortunate. For those who suffer, we are called to help in any way we can. I guess Ina that you did not get the memo. Have fun cooking on your show, you will never get me to watch.

The world would be better served by people-first decision making. In this case, Ina and her show are more important than making a dying boy happy. It is a priority that is completely out of whack.

See article for yourself..it is horrible!

http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/food/barefoot-contessa-turns-down-sick-kids-wish-not-cool-2468614/

Recovered From Hangman's Neck To Play Baseball

David Newhan of the San Diego Padres is an interesting story for several reasons. I love the story simply because as a surfer and baseball player he is passionate about baseball and the ocean. In many ways, looking back, I wish i could have balanced the two between work and school but my passion for the ocean won.

David suffered a nearly devastating injury in 2009 while diving off his surfboard and hitting a sand bar. The ocean floor is always changing so the possibility always exists for head and neck injuries in shallow and dangerous ocean conditions. His case is said to mirror that of former Superman character and actor Christopher Reeves. We remember Reeves' gut wrenching story from his fame and visibility in the media and remember clearly Chris's physical struggles. Perhaps what we remember about Chris and his struggles makes David's story so amazing.

The doctor allegedly told the nurse when he went in to get checked out that he had a hangman's broken neck. At that point surfing and playing baseball seem to go out the window. The injury itself does not sound pleasant any way you describe it.

Here in 2011 David is fighting for a role on the Padres Baseball Team and I myself am hoping he makes it. He seems to have a refreshing perspective and a new lease on life and that makes him someone we all root for, Padre fan or not. See the article at the following link:

http://www.thepostgame.com/features/201103/old-ballplayer-and-his-new-soul