A cancer patient's video of fellow patients, parents and staff at Seattle Children's Hospital is on a cyber-world tour, capturing more than 600,000 views -- and hearts, one presumes -- on YouTube.
The video produced by Chris Rumble, a 22-year-old Children’s cancer patient who lives in Kent, shows patients and others dancing, holding signs saying "hope" and "fighter" and singing to the music of Kelly Clarkson’s song “Stronger."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihGCj5mfCk8
Singer responds
Last night, Clarkson tweeted, “Oh my goodness y’all have to see this! It’s beautiful! I can’t wait to visit these kids and nurses! It’s Seattle Children’s Hospital, I believe. God Bless y’all!”
Then she posted her response to the kids on YouTube, Children’s blog “On the Pulse” reported.
“Kelly was so moved that today she sent a video response to Chris and all the patients, families, and staff in Seattle Children’s Hospital’s Hematology Oncology unit. Everyone was so excited to hear from her, including many of the video’s star performers,” the blog says.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSFrPHWLKJg
Clarckson was winner of the inaugural season of the television series American Idol in 2002.
"Everyone was genuinely happy on Saturday when were filming that and all the parents were just happy too, which was kind of a relief for parents to see their kids having fun," Rumble told media.
Children’s has also posted “The Making of Kelly Clarkson's "Stronger" at Seattle Children's Hospital:”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4w1beZg8mM
Here’s Chris’ story as told by Children’s
A promising hockey player on his way to a professional career, Chris Rumble lived in Wenatchee for the past three years where he played for the Wenatchee Wild hockey team. In April, after having swollen glands and being urged by others to visit a doctor, Chris visited a Wenatchee clinic to be tested for mono. That is where he received a leukemia diagnosis. Eight hours later he was at Children’s.
“The diagnosis hit me like a brick wall. I was really worried about playing hockey again but I didn’t have time to be sad because everything just happened so fast,” says Chris. “The hardest part was telling people, especially my mom. She made it easier though as she just said, ‘OK we’ll beat it.’”
Chris is now undergoing about a 6-month treatment plan at Children’s and he will be done with therapy in September, just in time for hockey season to begin in October. Chris will be attending Canisius College where he will play on their hockey team. For Chris, “Going to college is the light at the end of the tunnel.”
