Pixar fulfills dying girl’s wish to see ‘Up’

[sabra]

Source: AP

10-year-old with cancer couldn’t go to theater, studio brought DVD to house

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. - Colby Curtin got her final wish.

The 10-year-old girl desperately wanted to see the new Disney-Pixar movie, “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-based company arrived at Colby’s home with a DVD copy of the movie, The Orange County Register reported Friday. The girl died later that night.

Colby’s mother, Lisa, said she had asked her daughter if she could hang on until the movie arrived.

“I’m ready (to die), but I’m going to wait for the movie,” she said her daughter replied.

Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31448115/ns/entertainment-movies/

[dugaresa]

1. how sweet and how sad

"According to The Orange County Register, Colby Curtin couldn’t keep her eyes open to see “Up” because of the pain of her disease, so her mother narrated what was happening as the movie played."

[nyc 4 Biden]

2. Saddest thing.

I cannot even begin to imagine what the families of terminally ill children endure.

[Old Time Pagan]

3. As a species we are truly schizoid

How can one species be capable of such acts of kindness, consideration, altruism, and self-sacrifice and then turn around and be so cruel, inconsiderate, self-serving and profoundly ignorant?

"Good people will do good things and bad people will do bad things, only the influence of religion causes good people to do bad things"

[Tangerine LaBamba]

25. That's what makes us human -

we're inconsistent, unpredictable, random, and breathtaking................

[shadowknows69]

39. And it will be a damn shame when our darker angels finally get the better of us.

Because they seem to be more plentiful.

[jhrobbins]

29. And you have known every good person gone bad by religion to make that statement

It's always a good time to start in on religion. I really don't understand why the atheists and non religionists take every opportunity to attack those of us that do not think like that. We - at least in here - do not do it to you, but we are fair game at every opportunity. And I don't think it was religion that got Adolf and Josef to kill, collectively, 36 - 40 million people in the last century. Religion certainly has its flaws and things to answer for, but so do those that don't believe either.

[Pacifist Patriot]

50. As a religious atheist, I too found the quote offensive and stated so below.

And no, religious atheist is not an oxymoron.

[merwin]

98. What exactly is a religious athiest?

I guess buddhism fits that name to a certain extent, but I consider that to be more of a way of living your life than a religion.

[Pacifist Patriot]

112. Some types of Buddhism would be considered religious atheism.

At present, it is estimated that the majority of Unitarian Universalists identify themselves as religious humanists. (It's been awhile since the last official survey and then it was over 45%) There is also the American Ethical Union, though I have no idea how many members of Ethical Culture Societies consider this their religion.

From the AHA, "Humanism is a worldview which says that reason and science are the best ways to understand the world around us, and that dignity and compassion should be the basis for how you act
toward someone else. Humanism is nontheistic. By this, we don't mean to say that there is no God. Instead, we say that there is no proof for the existence of God, any gods, the supernatural or an
afterlife. Therefore, we take very seriously the idea that "No deity will save us; we must save ourselves." We are living the only life we'll have, in the only world we know about. The responsibility for the choices we make are ours and ours alone."

Some people consider it a way of life rather than a religion, but to others, a way of life is religion. I imagine it would depend upon how one defines religion which always takes off in a great many directions. Invariably, someone gets frustrated and says, "we're just arguing semantics." Of course we are! Bcause how we define our terms is always at the core of any debate. We can always fall back on the dictionary, but even that definition of religion is broad and not every person would agree with every point.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/religion

Except for this phrase in the first definition, "esp. when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies" and the fourth definition, the rest of this entry for religion is as applicable to religious atheism as it is to any other religion.

I consider myself a religious atheist, but someone else who defines these terms differently could very well disagree with me.

Hope that helps!

Cheers

[Old Time Pagan]

61. Actually it's funny you should mention Adolf

I feel bad that my being grumpy this morning resulted in taking this thread in a negative direction. I was just venting and probably should have kept my thoughts to myself.

Apparently I don't have enough "posts" to send you a private email so I can't send you some fun facts about Hitler's rise to power and some of the establishments in Germany that aided and abetted him. Truth be told both A & J were pretty evil guys but in Adolf's case he got a lot of support, assistance and credibility from the very organization you're defending. Don't take my word for it, just run a few Google searches. Try starting with hitler, church or hitler, religion and take it from there.

[jhrobbins]

71. I really don't have to google Adolph-he has been pretty much a life long study

He did do all of that, all the while having no intention of keeping up any of the agreements he made with the Christian clergy and the Vatican. Hard to believe he would actually go back on an agreement he had made. And,as I said, there is plenty of room for recriminations for everyone, including the clergy that betrayed every canon they said they supported. They have a toasty seat I imagine (actually I don't imagine - I have no belief in the concept of hell- a concept created by the Catholic hierarchy to keep the peasantry in line.)
And I do not believe that simply by putting on the white collar or cassock that one becomes a good person - they have drug whatever kind of person they are along with them to put under those robes and many of them were humdingers with no concept of 'the greater good'.

[DissedByBush]

63. Interesting trivia

Stalin was educated in a theological school from the age of 10 and a seminary from 16. IIRC he got some ideas for his brutal treatment and how to keep power by keeping everyone scared from one of the priests.

[jhrobbins]

72. Again, and I don't know how much stronger I can make this argument-simply

because one wears the habit of the clergy does not make them a good person. It's a specious argument, a Potemkin's village.

I like what Ghandi said (paraphrasing)- I like your Christ, It is your Christians I don't care for. They are not necessarily one and the same.

[WolverineDG]

93. Doesn't make them bad people either

As evidenced in this thread, being a pagan or an atheist doesn't mean you can't be an asshole. And anyone who takes the time to dredge up anti-Christian & anti-religious bias in a thread about a girl dying of cancer is an asshole.

dg

[DissedByBush]

95. I wasn't making that point

I agree with you. Stalin was turned bad by a combination of his particular religious upbringing under bad people, but such an upbringing could have also been under non-religious bad people. It was also because he was Georgian and there was a program of Tsarist suppression of Georgian nationality, enforced by the church, that he rebelled against.

Religion itself is good or at least not bad.

Religion with power is evil.

Religion with power mixed with nationalism and politics is the utmost evil.

But at that point it is not so much about the religion anymore.

[shadowknows69]

37. Well said. ETA see you've been around almost a year. Welcome anyway.

[paulsby]

47. spare me that absurd canard

we have an uplifting story here, and you use it to attack religion, with that false claim.

if there is one thing the study of history shows pretty clearly, especially the 20th century when immense evil was done in the name of NO religion (see: USSR, Pol Pot, etc. etc.) it is that it's not religion causing man to do evil things.

that's such an old, boring, dumb, factually suspect canard, but people still think it's profound.

[Pacifist Patriot]

51. I'm intrigued by that quote from that screen name. Odd to say the least.

[Old Time Pagan]

62. What's "odd" about that.?

I'm an old timer so the "old time" is descriptive. I live in a rural area and since pagan is "Middle English, from Late Latin pgnus, from Latin, country-dweller, civilian, from pgus, country, rural district" that seems to fit.

So whatever connection you assume exists between the quote and my screen name would be purely conjecture on your part and you know what they say about making assumptions.

[Pacifist Patriot]

75. You know full well the contemporary connotation of "pagan" has religious meaning.

Whether you intend it to or not, your screen name presents you as a practitioner of nature-based religion. Which would make your comment about religion being the only influence to make good people do bad things a bit odd. Though I wouldn't have blinked if your comment has said "empirialist religion," "organized religion," "major world religions."

I have no doubt you are aware of the assumptions about religion any reasonable person would make upon reading your screen name. So spare me the manufactured condescension. It's truly unbecoming.

[Old Time Pagan]

84. Well there we have it, once again a disagreement comes down to

semantics.

You see whether you like it or not, for many of us the word religion has this definition "the body of persons adhering to a particular set of beliefs and practices: for example the world council of religions."

So for me "organized religion" is redundant since any "reasonable" person would understand that by definition the word "religion" denotes organization. Belief without "organization" falls under the category of the spiritual and I am a very spiritual being. I'm afraid the two words are becoming intertwined thus leading to silly exchanges like the one we've just engaged in.

That said, I can't help the fact that most people in this country are ignorant about the true nature of "paganism" and confuse it with "neo-paganism." Neo-paganism seems to be a 20th/21st century attempt to organize a belief system which will then create a power structure and make it subject to Weinberg's quote.

This is what I practice. I try to live in harmony with the Earth and I've raised my daughter to honor the ways of Nature. I strive to strengthen my understanding of the miracle called Life.

My beliefs are personal, they are the most personal thing about me. How I express my spirituality is no ones business but my own and what I believe is between me and my higher power. My truth is in my heart, I honor it and don't allow it to be limited by anyone or anything. I use two of the principles from the ancient ways to guide my interactions with others, "If it harms no one I may do as I wish" and "To the best of my abilities I have an obligation to protect the weak from the strong." Imagine what the world would be like if everyone from the world's leaders right down to you and me made decisions about their actions keeping those concepts in mind.

Once again that old cliche about what happens when we make assumptions seems to be in play.

[Pacifist Patriot]

87. *sigh* Indeed.

[Pacifist Patriot]

48. The quote in your post is truly offensive.

Do you honestly believe religion is the ONLY influence to cause good people to do bad things? *sigh*

[Old Time Pagan]

64. I think it is one of the few things

that allows and enables "good" people to justify doing bad things because their GOD says that taking those actions are in accordance with HIS divine word.

Feel absolutely free to find this quote offensive. I find it offensive that not one of the major religious influences in this country came out in full throated protest against the war and subsequent occupation of Iraq. I find it offensive that none of them are taking up the cause of universal health care for all citizens of this country even down to the least of us. I find it offensive that the major religious influences are putting tremendous amounts of time and resources into denying the GLBTG community of this country the same rights, privileges (and headaches) that we breeders enjoy.

I guess we both get to feel offended today. I say hrrrrrumph and good day to you sir or madam.

[No Elephants]

73. I guess it all depends upon your definitions of "good" and "major religious influences." I don't

even know if I believe in "good" people or "bad" people.

Any person does both good things and bad things. So, I guess I reject your belief that religion makes good people do bad things. When a person is doing something bad, s/he is not being a good person.

And your claim religionis the ONLY thing that makes good people do bad things is, forgive me, simply flat out absurd. By he same token, I could claim that only religion makes bad people do good things. Both statements are equally false, but you seem oblivious to the reality that religion often inspires people to reach higher, be it in art or every day conduct. Bigotry on the other hand....

Lots of clergy spoke out against the invastion of Iraq and for health care. But in all cases, we are talking about the behavior of people. That is not the same as religion.

[Pacifist Patriot]

76. Well for starters, you seem to have a rather narrow definition of religion.

Perhaps you should have said "monotheism" in your quote rather than painting with such a broad brush. Not to mention doing a little bit of research before making claims you cannot support.

Jews Against The War (leaders from all Jewish denomination denouncing Iraq invasion and occupation)

Unitarian Universalist Association: Long record of vocal opposition to the Iraq invasion and occupation issued this in July 2008 regarding health care.

Therefore, be it resolved: We call on Unitarian Universalist congregations to become informed advocates for universal access to nonprofit health care financing through social action and adult religious education. We call on individual Unitarian Universalists to urge our members of Congress to co-sponsor and pass HR 676, Medicare for All, or its successors, so that our people and our nation can have the excellent and affordable health care system we deserve.

United Methodists: In December 2005, the bishops renewed their opposition to the Iraq War.

"The Roman Catholic Church, led by Pope John Paul II, opposed the U.S.-led war in Iraq. Now the Vatican is turning its attention to Iraq's post-war needs by making offers of humanitarian assistance and calling for all nations to be involved in Iraq's rebuilding." http://www.americancatholic.org/News/JustWar/Iraq/

That should at least give you a start. I hope you don't mind facts getting in the way of your righteous indignation.

[Old Time Pagan]

81. Stretching there buddy, definitely stretching

here's what I said:

"I find it offensive that not one of the major religious influences in this country came out in FULL THROATED PROTEST against the war and subsequent occupation of Iraq. I find it offensive that none of them are taking up the cause of universal health care for all citizens of this country even down to the least of us. I find it offensive that the major religious influences are putting tremendous amounts of time and resources into denying the GLBTG community of this country the same rights, privileges (and headaches) that we breeders enjoy."

Which one of the examples you provided me for a "start" would you consider a "full throated protest?" Didn't see you touch the other two examples of what I find offensive concerning the religious establishment.

The actual quote I paraphrased came from a Noble Laureate in physics, Steven Weinberg:

“Religion is an insult to human dignity. With or without it, you'd have good people doing good things and evil people doing bad things, but for good people to do bad things, it takes religion.”

So far you haven't provided me any "facts" to get in the way of my being offended by the religious establishment claiming it holds the "high moral ground." By the way, according to the New Testament, wasn't Jesus something less than a big fan of the religious establishment in place during his time? Now I'm no biblical scholar (that would be a little weird given my screen name) but it seems to me that those were the very folks who committed the absolute evil of conspiring to have him put to death to preserve their power and position.

A little tidbit for you to chew on as you defend the "establishment."

[Pacifist Patriot]

86. Nice try, but....

I am specifically responding to this claim.

"I find it offensive that not one of the major religious influences in this country came out in full throated protest against the war and subsequent occupation of Iraq. I find it offensive that none of them are taking up the cause of universal health care for all citizens of this country even down to the least of us."

That is what I addressed with facts that contradict your assertions.

[Old Time Pagan]

88. Looks like a combination of issues here

First how do you define a "full throated protest" and do any of the facts you provided meet your own criteria of that definition?

You see, I was around for the protests against the Vietnam War (which by the way were not lead, condoned or encouraged by the religious establishment of the time) and for me those met my definition. Have I missed giant protests around the country against the illegal actions in Iraq that were organized, funded and led by the major religious establishments of this country? If I haven't then your facts don't contradict my assertions. Like it or not the religious establishment of this country would much rather rail against the gays having equal rights and women losing their right to have control over their bodies then take on the wealthy and powerful. Since they justify their actions in the name of GOD I assert that Weinberg is right on the money.

Maybe this will make it clearer. Years ago came up with my first Universal Axiom. "Any idea no matter how beneficial, enlightened, altruistic or well intentioned once organized invariably turns to crap." I think it has more to do with the type of people who like to organize things then it has to do with the ideas.

[Book Lover]

4. A good story to end a short life with

:cry:

[Libertas1776]

5. That is so tragic

and yet so beautiful at the same time. Sweet little girl, rest in peace :cry:

[orleans]

6. ...

"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.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31448115/ns/entertainment-movies

omg--how utterly heartbreaking.....

[lapfog_1]

9. I have always loved the folks at Pixar.

Every interaction I've ever had with them has been a positive one.

And, of course, I love their films.

Disney Animation was fun to work with as well, but it's a more "corporate" attitude than Pixar.

Pixar is a class act.

[merwin]

107. Pixar is a much smaller operation. And they don't have to deal with the bottom line

quite as often. One, because they crank out hit movies every time. Two, because they don't have to deal with the financial side of things... Disney does most of that. Three, they hired the right bunch of people for the job and seem to have a great chemistry, which makes for a positive work environment.

This is in direct opposition to Disney, which is a multi-national corporation who's executives probably don't know the names of the people two levels below them.

[Fumesucker]

7. Good thing I can touch type..

Because the screen has gotten a bit blurry for some reason..

[ejpoeta]

8. I am so glad they brought it to her so she could see it. So sad

that she is that sick. But at least she gets her wish. It is a great movie btw. Went to the drive in to see it.

[roguevalley]

11. what a great thought, going up into the blue sky for a new adventure.

that's where she went, buoyed by their love and the thought of pretty balloons.

[merwin]

99. Morbidly appropriate as well, as it deals heavily with death.

Got very depressing at times during the movie... I couldn't imagine the sadness of the parents as the old man is reflecting on his loss throughout the movie.

[Kajsa]

10. I am so glad she got to see 'Up'.

It is heartbreaking to hear of her passing.

RIP,Colby.

:cry:

[NewJeffCT]

12. damn, my eyes are tearing up...

what a nice thing to do, but so sad that she passed away.



:cry:

[nuxvomica]

13. You shoulda warned that the link was not "work safe"

This line just hit me, the "stuffed animals" part, and now I'm trying to keep from blubbering:

The employee arrived with the DVD, stuffed animals of characters and other movie memorabilia.

Great story. This is why I love the movies.

[proud patriot]

27. yep , this got me too... p.s. I've seen Up and it's great

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.

[Bette Noir]

14. Laughing through tears.

I'm glad she got to see the movie, though. It's terrific. Might as well make one's last moments here pleasant ones.

[npk]

15. I am definitely a PIXAR fan for life now! K&R

It is so nice to see some companies that truly get it. THANK YOU PIXAR.

While this story is very sad, I do feel that this mother will at least have some fond memories to recall about a time in her life that was unbearable. I think PIXAR contributed in some way, and that is lovely to see.

[Chulanowa]

16. Diagnosed with vascular cancer in 2005

She was six. SIX! Presumably it'd been growing for a while undetected. How does a child so young come up with vascular cancer. It's wonderful that the people from Pixar did this, but what really is striking me in this article is such a young child suffering such a disease. Dead at age 10 with cancer.

There's something rotten. What poisons was this child or her parents exposed to to cause this?

[Pavulon]

24. Some cancers are genetic.

some people are predisposed to cancer of various types. This is one of those stories that is really sad and cool at the same time.

[Norwood]

17. How sad yet so incredibly touching

The employee arrived with the DVD, stuffed animals of characters and other movie memorabilia.
What a class act Pixar is
I don't normally get choked up reading articles similar to this one, but I'm holding back tears after reading this.
RIP Colby

[Common Sense Party]

18. Pixar rocks. n/t

[Rebubula]

19. You know...

...it is shit like this (children dying) that led me to realize that god is not here.

It is also times like these that make me proud to be part of this wonderful race of people.

Humans as a whole may suck, but individuals and small groups never fail to impress me and make me cry

[Divine Discontent]

79. as we all often like to point out

horrible sadness (but filled with amazing sentiment, compassion and breathtaking humanity!) seems to make some people say this proves there is no god. that's fine. we all have our beliefs. but I choose to trust my inner spirit that thinks, weeps, cries of joy without so much as me merely breathing - and toast the wonderful like of this little girl who has made her parent's so very proud of her strength and wisdom during her battle with a disease - her wording was amazing to read. God blessed her with a wonderful spirit.

best to you! this life is short!

[merwin]

100. There can be no concept of life without death.

Nobody is imune to it.

[Skittles]

20. it's always good to be reminded there is real humanity in this world

very small things can mean so much

[The abyss]

46. "it's always good to be reminded there is real humanity in this world"

Yes, it is nice! Your statement is true.

I’m about the darkest cynic you will ever find, however I have never quit looking.

Nice story.

[vow66]

21. Pixar grants girl's dying wish to see 'Up'

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x457322

[snappyturtle]

22. How said to hear a ten year old express a readiness to die....her suffering

must have been horrendous. May she rest in peace.

Pixar is going to get a thank you from me. Most days I have good reasons to detest the coporate world and now I have a good reason to love one.

Edit: Haven't found an e-mail address but for snail mail: Pixar, Inc., 1200 Park Avenue, Emeryville,CA 94608
phone: [phone]

Just called---long though 'animated' voice activated system....getting so many phone calls they've set up a sight to send comments: [e-mail]

[a la izquierda]

59. That's exactly what I was thinking...

a 10 year old being ready to die. I'm 31 now, and I don't think I'll ever be ready to die.

[snappyturtle]

96. I felt that way at 31 years of age and still feel that way at 61! nt

[merwin]

108. There's only a certain limit to the amount of pain one person can endure.

Our minds at some point give in to the fact that death is near, and it's easier to cope with that pain if there is an end in sight.

I had to put down my cat last week who had just turned 9 years old due to a massive fungal infection in his lungs. Been growing for almost a year and by the time we caught it (about a month ago) it was too late unless we had about $5000 to spend on treatment... We were fortunate enough that the vet we went to went far beyond the call of duty and charged us $60 for the start-to-end diagnosis and the attempt at treatment with the cheaper but less effective medications... totaling over $400.

The last few days he knew what was happening and you could just see him giving into it. The love was there, but the will was gone.

On a side note (in case anyone is wondering why I'm comapring an animal to a human), there is a parent-child relationship that grows with some animals. I cried at this loss more than any relative I've lost over the years... probably partially due to my wife and i getting him from an Animal shelter as a kitten a few months after we met, and expecting him to be there for our 3 year old to remember and create the same kind of bond with. As it stands, he has no clue what happened. Didn't so much as blink when we were burying him. Just the announcement "Piper gone" every few days when he realizes he can't find him. I have been wondering as of late when the concept of death is formed in a child's mind.

[msanthrope]

23. Just saw UP this afternoon with

my daughter. What a great movie, truly one of Disney's best. It's redemptive and sad and joyous, all at once.

[Beacool]

26. I'm sitting here crying.

My heart goes out to the family. What a brave little soul. May she rest in peace.

:cry:

[Geoff R. Casavant]

28. We saw "Up" just last week.

The first fifteen minutes are as heartbreaking as we'd been told. Now reading this story I find it all resonating again, and I have a lump in my throat.

[merwin]

109. I wasn't aware of the theme of the movie before I saw it.

It was hard to watch immediately after the far-too-early loss of a loved one of the feline persuasion.

[UndertheOcean]

30. I am tearing up to the exent my co-workers are probably wondeirng what is wrong with me

Truly there is no God , I refuse to accept that a God would torture a 10 year old kid like this.

[Rebubula]

38. That is why...

...I have been an atheist for 20 years. Not out of spite or anger - just unwillingness to believe that something so powerful could exist and let shit like this happen.

[krispos42]

31. Got something in my eye...

[proud patriot]

45. Here's some kleenex

ya'old softie :hug:

[krispos42]

52. Thanks...

...these kind of things get me all gooey sometimes.


This whole scenario plays out in my mind. A PR guy in California reads his email, goes to see his boss. The boss read it then personally calls up the mother.


"Mrs Curtin? This is Mr. Smith. I'm the head of Pixar's public relations department. I've received an email about your daughter, how is she doing?... I see... I see... Oh, that's terrible. How long do you think... Oh, dear God, that is truly tragic. Mrs. Curtin, can you hold for a minute?"

"Johnson, get in here! Johnson, go down to the editing studio; I'll call ahead. Pick up a DVD copy of "Up" and hustle your ass down to this address in Huntington Beach. There's a 10-year-old girl dying from cancer; her last wish is to see this movie before she dies and that can be at any hour. She may not last the night, in fact. So move your ass! And grab some merchandise for the kid!"

"Williams, this is Smith in PR. I need a DVD of "Up", ASAP. Johnson is on his way down to pick it up."

"Mrs. Curtin, thanks for holding. Somebody will be there as soon as possible with the movie on DVD. Yes, on DVD... she can watch is right there in her bedroom. Yes... yes... it's no problem at all, Mrs. Curtin. I only wish I could do more."

*sniff*

[StrongBad]

32. I wonder if they took the DVD back after screening it.

[snappyturtle]

34. Yes, they took it back. nt

[Frank Cannon]

65. No. It showed up on Pirate Bay the same evening.

Of course they took it back.

[Rob Gregory Browne]

33. Okay, this one has me blubbering... nt

[redqueen]

35. Oh God...

:cry:

[Seldona]

36. K&R

What a sad, sweet, terrifying (as a parent), story. Pixar is top notch. What a great thing they did.

May her mother find peace. I've dealt with a lot of death of loved ones over the last year or so, but I can't even contemplate losing one of my kids.

[DaveinJapan]

40. Thank you for sharing the link, what a sad story! n/t

[Omaha Steve]

41. K&R

Kudos.

[sce56]

42. People can hang in there to do that one last thing when they know there time is almost done!

My first wife died last Saturday morning she hung in there until the oldest arrived back from Virginia! and passed on the next morning after seeing all three sons together for the first time in many years. Ovarian cancer is a real silent killer

[Kajsa]

44. I am sorry for your loss,sce56!

My condolences to you and your family.

:hug: :grouphug:

[reflection]

55. Man, I'm so sorry to hear that.

I'm glad she got to see her sons together though.

[AsahinaKimi]

43. wow.

A sad but happy story. It suddenly reminded me of a drama based on a real life person, called
One Litre of Tears..

About a young girl, who is struggling to make her way though her last school year, despite the fact, she had a terminal disease..It had me crying for days, with each episode. The last day when she departs the earth, after so much suffering, was a relief and yet she went with the love of everyone.

[Pacifist Patriot]

49. Wow, I just got back from seeing this film with my family.

My kids are a bit spread out in age so it is rare that all five of us see the same movie at the same time. I was thrilled when my oldest son agreed to go see "Up" with us. Downright shocked when he admitted he cried at one point. I won't say when lest I spoil the movie for someone here who is inspired to see it.

Wow, just wow.

[flyboyscotty68]

53. How very sad

It is outrageous that people are still letting people die of cancer. It is just SO evil that they are not letting people be cured by ingesting cannibinol. These so called doctors that can sit there and watch someone die , when they know that there is a cure out there, are just evil; pure and simple. I can't believe that these people act like they are christians or religious in any way; while they let people die, is just sickening. SHAME SHAME SHAME!!!!!!!

[w4rma]

97. That's not a cure. It's just very effective against the pain. (nt)

[reflection]

54. I've got to quit reading these.

I was emotionally useless from the moment I read this. Poor little thing, so small and innocent.
:cry:

[reflection]

56. On edit...

When I saw 'Up', I was very surprised at how sad the movie was. It was a lot different that what I expected. I hope the little girl saw it different than I did, and enjoyed the movie. I would hate to think it made her sad too. Apparently she was very open and forthright about her impending death, so the themes would probably hit home, so to speak... :(

[jeanmarc]

57. I'm so sad reading this news

Children do not deserve to die. No one does, but especially children.

I'm crying.

[proteus_lives]

58. Sad.

:cry:

Still, Up is a good movie to go out on. I saw it, very emotional.

May Colby Curtin now peace and happiness wherever she is now.

[Trajan]

60. OMG ....

How heartbreaking ...

I could not stand it as a parent ..... I would go nuts ....

[grace0418]

66. I cannot begin to imagine what her parents are going through. How do you survive

something like losing your child to cancer?

[nradisic]

67. I am a grown man crying...

I just could contain myself. I am the father of 10 year old triplet girls. This story just got the best of me.So sad, yet so redeeming of the human race.

[Mythbuster]

70. You're not alone

I have an 8yo daughter that is my greatest treasure... she'll get an extra hug tonight.

[fujiyama]

68. It's nice to hear of a corporation doing something right for once

My condolences to the family.

[Mythbuster]

69. It's hard to imagine

the pain parents must feel seeing their little angel die from such a horrific disease. It's also hard to imagine the pain and suffering that poor 10yo had to endure, at least she has no more pain. What a fantastic job by Pixar to to do something so kind. RIP Colby...

[harmonicon]

74. am I the only person who's sickened by this?

The AP has done some low shit, but this is the lowest of the low - a giant advertisement for Pixar, sponsored by the real death of a real girl. The intention makes me want to vomit, and the fact that the ploy has been successful is even more disgusting. Based on most of the posts here, it's working. What kind of world do we live in where a child's dying wish is to take part - just one last time - in rampant consumer culture? What has capitalist advertising done to the world? I'm ready too, but I'll wait for the destruction of the society of the spectacle for as long as possible.

[ForeignSpectator]

77. I agree with what capitalist advertising has done to the world but

"What kind of world do we live in where a child's dying wish is to take part - just one last time - in rampant consumer culture?"

Please... this girl just wanted to WATCH this one movie before she died, a movie which, from what I gathered from this thread, was somewhat related to her own situation.
Rampant consumer culture - She didn't wish to go out and buy up the whole toys section at the next walmart or something...

Disney certainly would exploit the situation, with Pixar I don't know, since it's a smaller company ( not a "corporation" ) there sure is more chance of humanity influencing decisions or maybe it was just advertising... sure would have been nice if they left the DVD for the parents to keep, for them to remember that special evening and IF they ever felt like watching it again.

But in the end, it is a heartbreaking story of a little girl who got her last wish before she had to die and it's wonderful that she did.

[harmonicon]

90. wasn't that final wish inspired by advertising to children? n/t

[lame54]

80. You are right, Pixar should have just NO!!!

How dare they behave humanely.

[Akoto]

82. Oh yes. That evil, capitalist Pixar!

I'm tired of their propaganda films about environmentalist robots and rats who cook, too!

[Vickers]

83. You might be.

No, wait...surely there are other douchebags out there?

:shrug:

[Coventina]

85. Had you read Debord at the age of 10?

The little girl wanted to see a movie before she died. It's often the little, simple things that mean the most in end-of-life situations.

Sure, I don't like consumer culture, but I'm not going to judge a kid for buying into it when it's all they know.

I agree, the system sucks, but I think your anger would be better off channeled in a different direction.

JMHO

[harmonicon]

91. I'm not mad at the kid or the family

I'm mad at advertising in general for making kids want things which they would do fine without - I'm especially mad at Pixar for using a girl's death as an advertising ploy, and for the (increasingly) right-wing AP for delivering this advertising for them, free of charge, and as a NEWS item no less.

[Book Lover]

89. says the man with a logo for an avatar

I take and agree with your point about good deeds being better done anonymously, but you'd come off better without a tv show logo next to your anti-consumer culture statement.

[harmonicon]

92. gimme some sugar, baby

Movies, tv, toys - all of those things are fine. I think children should be exposed to them so as to be an informed participant in culture. However, I don't think that exploiting a dead child for the purposes of advertising is okay under any circumstances. What I find disturbing about the child wanting to watch this film is that that want was instilled by the same company which would exploit her life for purposes of making other people give them money to consume their products. Just look at most of the responses to this thread: their game has worked, and that's fucked right up.

[merwin]

101. So if your dying child wanted to see their favorite author

before they died, that would be a bullshit PR move by the publishing company?

Get a grip... kids like what they like and as far as material dying requests go, this one was perfect. I don't want to spoil anything for anyone who hasn't seen it, but it deals directly with suffering, death, coping, dreams that are left unfulfilled because of it all through it... presumably also cancer (although they don't specifically say).

[harmonicon]

102. was this film by a famous author or director....

or do children want to see it because it's marketed to them by a company who wouldn't give a rats ass if they died, so long as they could find a way to get PR from it?

kids do not "like what they like". I don't know how well you remember childhood, but kids like basically what's marketed towards them/what they're given access to choose from. Within that there is some variation, and there are the exceptions where some children forego being a part of the capitalist culture of their generation, but it's rare.

Whether or not this thing was nice for the kid is beside the point. If it had been carried out as a kind gesture, no one would have heard of it. This thing stinks is so many damn ways.

[friendly_iconoclast]

103. It was by the people who made "Wall-E", a very anti-consumerism film

Yeah, Pixar made a lot of money from it, but not all messages need be heavy-handed and didactic.

Pixar did a solid, and didn't publicize it. The kid's family told the media.

I might also point out the non-profit BBC doesn't offer "Doctor Who" for free. And the DVDs they are
happy to SELL to you come with the same copyright warning that most other commercial DVDs have.

If it's kosher for the Beeb, why not Pixar?

[merwin]

105. Besides, Pixar is an animation studio, and wouldn't be doing any marketing.

As far as I know, Pixar cranks out the hits and Disney does the marketing.

[harmonicon]

110. doctor who

I first saw doctor who when I was a kid and living in the US. It was on PBS. I remember the first time that I saw it. My sister and I were going to go see a movie, but we were so enraptured by this show on public television, that we decided to stay home and watch it instead. The only money I've ever given to doctor who came in the form of my TV license that I paid the first year I lived in the UK. My new house doesn't get any digital tv reception, so I don't watch tv anymore. Do you remember that story where BBC Wales exploited a child's death for profit? Neither do I.

[merwin]

122. So you saw a show on TV, became enamored with it, and somehow

because it was the good old days, it's different than a little girl who sees a movie preview and becomes enamored with it.

[harmonicon]

126. yes

Free public broadcasting is very different from an advertisement (even if you call it a "preview" it's just an advertisement).

[merwin]

104. Or they contacted Pixar and it had to go through 6 different people, once of which

mentioned it to a secretary who thought they would call the news... or maybe a neighbor/friend of the family, which is even more likely since nobody from Pixar is quoted and they have refused to comment on it. It wasn't even Pixar that initiated the damn thing, as per the following snippet that goes into more detial:.

Pixar has an automated telephone answering system, Orum-Moore said, and unless she had a name of a specific person she wanted to speak to, she could not get through. Orum-Moore guessed a name and the computer system transferred her to someone who could help, she said.

Pixar officials listened to Colby’s story and agreed to send someone to Colby’s house the next day with a DVD of "Up," Orum-Moore recalled.

She immediately called Lisa Curtin, who told Colby.

“Do you think you can hang on?” Colby’s mother said.

“I’m ready (to die), but I’m going to wait for the movie,” the girl replied.

source:
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/pixar-up-movie-2468059-home-show

You don't have any clue as to how the story made it to a news reporter, and are making up your own back-story to fit the conclusion that you had already come to.

And the real kicker here... As far as I know, Pixar doesn't even have a marketing staff. They are an animation studio. Disney does the marketing, and I don't think they stopped to contact the marketing department during the phone call. At what point in that chain of events would they have even had the chance to run it through the marketing department? And why would an animation studio who's film is far past it's prime for ticket sales (and is already well on its way to be one of their top grossing movies yet) even consider that aspect of it?

I feel sorry for people who can't appreciate what happened here... I feel damn sorry.

[harmonicon]

111. I also feel sorry for people who can't appreciate what's happened here

and what is continuously happening in the world they live in.

[onenote]

120. so do you oppose movies being made for kids?

Or just advertising of them?

Should movies made for kids (or for adults for that matter) not be marketed?

Just invest a few million dollars in making something and then put it on screens and hope someone shows up?

How about other products? Should nothing be advertised?

[harmonicon]

127. BINGO!!!

Nothing should be advertised. You've got it. I can understand going to a movie theatre and picking up a brochure which gives the schedule for the month with short descriptions of the films (as I've seen several French theaters do), but apart from that, I don't see the point. When I see something advertised, I can pretty safely assume that it's complete crap. I don't even know what I've bought in the last 10 - 15 years based on advertising, or that I've even ever seen advertised. Still, I somehow manage to listen to music, go to the cinema, travel, eat, drink, and be merry. I think many of this world's ills would go away very quickly if advertising were eliminated.

[onenote]

130. here's an idea: organize a boycott of any website that contains advertising

oh, wait .... that would mean boycotting DU...

[harmonicon]

131. why would I boycott something? Who boycott's? What does that accomplish?

The joke is on the advertisers.

[Pacifist Patriot]

114. You're serious? If J.K. Rowling came to see my dying child because...

he's a huge Harry Potter fan, neither she nor the publishing company would have to contact the media for the public to find out about it. I see nothing in the story that says this is Pixar self-promotion. Could be, but it could also be a family or friend sharing the story. We'll probably never know.

And count me as someone else who finds it so ironic that you sport a Doctor Who avatar. If Tom Baker or David Tennant visited a dying child and the story made the press would you be up in arms about shameless self-promotion by BBC Wales?

[harmonicon]

115. it's the AP who is doing the advertising

The right-wing AP advertising for Disney. Disney, who own ABC, who supposedly are involved in some type of news or something, but I figure they would treat this as news as well. How is this not disturbing?

[merwin]

118. So it had nothing to do with AP ratings?

It's not like puff pieces generate a lot of PR for the Associated Press or anything.

[merwin]

121. She wanted to see it because she loved Pixar movies. It says that flat out.

She saw the preview for it at a different Pixar movie and became enamored with the concept, as did I (although I have watched every Pixar movie at least 30 times). It's beautiful artwork, great stories, good life lessons, etc.

Most people want to go see a movie because of a preview for it, not because of mass marketing campaigns (with a few exceptions, Pixar NOT being one of them).

[Hippo_Tron]

123. Sometimes doing the right thing is the same as doing the profitable thing

It's disconcerting but it's the truth. Pixar granted a dying girl her last wish and as an unavoidable result they got some great press from it. The media likes to run human interest stories like this one and it was inevitable that it was going to show up in the papers somewhere. Likewise if Pixar hadn't brough her the DVD "Pixar denies dying girl her last wish" might've wound up in the papers as well.

They did the right thing and they also did the profitable thing. Thus we have no good way of knowing for sure whether or not they would've done it if it had not been profitable. But I would imagine that had it not been profitable they would've done it anyway. Even greedy corporate executives tend to have sympathy for 10 year old kids with terminal cancer.

[harmonicon]

125. you're obviously a 1/2-full-er - good for you, I'm just far more cynical

"I would imagine that had it not been profitable they would've done it anyway. Even greedy corporate executives tend to have sympathy for 10 year old kids with terminal cancer."

I wouldn't imagine that. Most last wishes are granted, any many of them could be fulfilled by lots of corporations, but aren't. They don't make the news.

[Hippo_Tron]

128. It's all about justification

If I'm a corporate CEO and I own a movie and a dying child wants to see that movie before she dies, I'm probably going to let her see it because it is the right thing to do and because I feel obligated since I'm the only person that can make it happen. On the other hand, if the girl wants me to pay for a trip to China I'm certainly not the only person that can make that happen and thus I wouldn't necessarily feel obligated to do it even if it is the right thing to do. Furthermore if I pay for one girl's trip to China then isn't it a slippery slope to lots of people begging me for stuff?

Yes corporate CEOs do the wrong thing quite a lot but it's not because they are sadistic. It's because they manage to convince themselves that what they do is completely justified. Whether or not they can justify it is going to determine their behavior. With the China trip, there is a justification for denying that last wish. With the movie, there really isn't any plausible justification I can think of. These people have souls and they are capable of being compassionate. They simply subscribe to an ideology (or religion depending on how you want to put it) so adamantly that it leads them to not be compassionate in many circumstances where you, I, or most others would.

[harmonicon]

132. fair enough - I think you're probably right

It still gives me the creeps that a little girl's dying wish would be to see a movie marketed toward her demographic (this doesn't say anything bad about the child, or her family, but about the culture we all live in), and that that wish being fulfilled would be news. There these things like the "make a wish" foundation, but I don't think that every time they do something the AP picks it up as a news story. Perhaps I'm naive, but this seemed far more sinister than most simple human-interest stories.

[Pacifist Patriot]

113. Did Pixar do this for the advertising? I don't see where they were the ones who contacted the media.

That element of the story appears to be missing. For all we know, this would be a non-story except a family member said something to the press and it got picked up for its poignancy. I don't think it's a particularly strong indictment of capitalist advertising. I think there are far better examples out there.

[harmonicon]

116. it's not an indictment of capitalist advertising on it's own

It frightens me for how clearly it illustrates the synergy between mass spectacle/entertainment, daily life, and what is purported to be "news".

[merwin]

119. Most news agencies also have what is called an Entertainment division.

It's pretty much classified as such. Some tagged it with Film and Health as well, which is appropriate, but I don't see anywhere as "breaking news".

[harmonicon]

124. I saw it as "breaking news" somewhere

Right here on this site. What does that tell you?

[Th1onein]

78. This is heartrending.

There is so much pain in this world from "natural causes", I don't understand how we can willingly visit it on each other.

[WolverineDG]

94. I'm glad she got to see the movie

Wish she could have been cured of cancer too. :cry:

dg

[merwin]

106. MUCH more detailed article about what happened.

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/pixar-up-movie-2468059-home-show

At that point, Orum-Moore, who desperately wanted Colby to get her last wish, began to cold-call Pixar and Disney to see if someone could help.

Pixar has an automated telephone answering system, Orum-Moore said, and unless she had a name of a specific person she wanted to speak to, she could not get through. Orum-Moore guessed a name and the computer system transferred her to someone who could help, she said.

Pixar officials listened to Colby’s story and agreed to send someone to Colby’s house the next day with a DVD of "Up," Orum-Moore recalled.

She immediately called Lisa Curtin, who told Colby.

“Do you think you can hang on?” Colby’s mother said.

“I’m ready (to die), but I’m going to wait for the movie,” the girl replied.

THE MOVIE

At about 12:30 p.m. the Pixar employee came to the Curtins’ home with the DVD.

He had a bag of stuffed animals of characters in the movie and a movie poster. He shared some quirky background details of the movie and the group settled in to watch Up.

I wonder who the employee was. It would have been an honor to be there for that screening. There were several parts of that movie that I was tearing up at (and that doesn't happen often, movies or not)... I can't imaging what it would have been like in even the first 20 minutes of the movie, which were the hardest to watch for me.

[JeanGrey]

117. What a kind and lovely thing for Pixar to do.

AS far as those that are down on it, too bad. They made a dying girl happy.

[KakistocracyHater]

129. NO ONE SHOULD DIE IN PAIN-it sounds like she did

THAT is what I find most horrifying about it all. REMOVE REAGAN-BUSH ANTI-DRUG MADNESS


!!!!!!!!!!give morphine to the dying!!!!!!!!!!!!


We know from Gitmo that extreme pain can cause organ failure, well then when dying, as organs fail & shut down doesn't that cause pain? The doctors are on auto-pilot, I've read in the NYT how they begin to ignore terminal people & can't prescribe the needed dosages for the dying because of the paper alerts (class 4 or 3-whatever) & then some even say they're concerned about addiction-my response is: how soon after they die are they declared "clean & sober"?