Colby Curtin, California Girl, Gets Dying Wish To See Movie 'Up'

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.

"Up" is the animated tale of a grumpy old man who, after his wife's death, tries to fulfill their joint dream of visiting South America by tying thousands of balloons to his house and floating away.

"When I watched it, I had really no idea about the content of the theme of the movie," Colby's mother told the Register. "I just know that word 'Up' and all of the balloons and I swear to you, for me it meant that (Colby) was going to go up. Up to heaven."

Colby, who was diagnosed with vascular cancer in 2005, saw previews for the film in April.

Story continues below

advertisement

"It was from then on, she said, 'I have to see that movie. It is so cool,'" family friend Carole Lynch said.

But the girl's health began to deteriorate. On June 4, Curtin asked a hospice company to bring a wheelchair so that her daughter could go to a movie theater but the chair was not delivered over the weekend, Curtin said.

By June 9, Colby was too sick to go anywhere.

Another family friend, Terrell Orum, called both Pixar and Disney, which owns the animation studio. The message was received by Pixar officials, who agreed to send someone to Colby's house the next day with a copy of "Up" for a private screening, Orum said.

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

Colby was unable to open her eyes to see the movie so her mother described the scenes. When her mother asked if she enjoyed it, the girl nodded, Curtin said.

The Pixar employee left after the movie, taking the DVD, which has not been released. Lynch, who was with the family during the screening, said the employee's "eyes were just welled up."

A call to Pixar seeking comment was not immediately returned Friday.

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.

Comments

[StringOfLights]

What a bittersweet story. I'm glad Pixar was kind enough to grant Colby her last wish.

[113]

that's very sad but i'm glad that Colby got her dieing wish. I am always in awe of hearing about the strength of children who are terminally ill...I am sorry for the family and I wish them the best after having to go through this.

I hope we find a cure for cancer soon so children like Colby can see many more great movies over a long life.

[zakwouldhave]

Beautiful child. There is not much to say. The picture of her shows such a happy face so it seems like she had a great outlook on life. All the best to her family.

[Minsi]

I watched this movie and BOY the movie was more sad than funny. Now why would you take a little dying girl to a movie like that?

[gcallaghan]

Because the little dying little girl wanted to see it. Are you suggesting the parents ought to have refused her?

[deepBlueCA]

Where did you see it? I thought it hasn't been released.

My condolences to the family.

[xmw]

try to keep up. the movie has been out for a couple of weeks but minsi doesn't get it. the che child wanted to see it. I saw the movie. whats sader than dying???

[guyb415]

If it was your child would you not grant them their last dying wish??? Obviously you don't have kids!!!

[smoothies831]

wow.this family just lost their little girl,and you want to criticize the one thing that may have made it somewhat bearable.cold, callous people like you continue to amaze me.show some respect and think before you speak.

[gnomic]

I'm glad the family found comfort in this most trying time. My sympathies are with you.

[LiberalBuzz]

Words fail me....

[LiberalBuzz]

Words fail me.......... :-(::::::

[Nick2]

What a beautiful thing Pixar did for Colby Curtin and her family. How sad for the such a terrible loss. May all their sorrows be behind them.

[lolyla]

That was really touching.

[HankDennemann]

This is the most poignant story I will read all year, and for a company that already had my undying respect, Pixar just went up another notch. A wonderful gesture at a time when it was needed the most.

My eyes started to run once I got to the part about Colby being to sick to open her eyes to watch the movie. I celebrate the fact that she was surrounded by her loving parents when she went, and that she was able to listen to this movie before she went, but I continually struggle with the monstrosities that are visited upon us for no clear reason. My heart breaks for that little girl, and for her parents. It just breaks.

[powerlift2201]

"A call to Pixar seeking comment was not immediately returned Friday."

Best sentence in the story. Pixar and Disney don't feel a need to answer calls from reporters or make this a big publicity stunt. It was just a very nice gesture for a dying girl. Pixar and Disney have done a wonderful thing.

[loki]

The Gesture seems to have been motivated by the fact that it would become a big publicity stunt and free advertising for the movie. If it wasnt, how did the media get word of it, and why is it being talked about everywhere? There are many gestures of kindness that happen every day, and the media doesnt find out about them. Why this? Pixar , Disney wanted it to get out. Thats why.

[cheforacle]

The movie has already been a big hit grossing a lot of revenue. The fact that you look at it as merely a gesture the studio did for publicity just reveals that you possess a cynical side that will sadly cause you to lose that many (by no means all) do good things for people just out of a sense that is the right, compassionate thing to do. You probably view me as some naive optimist. As many bad things there are in this world, many great acts of kindness occur daily. You should not cast aspersions as so many do on anonymous blogs unless you are aware of all the circumstances.

This was a great story - very moving.

[Saganslegacy]

I really don't think so.

[smoothies831]

thats right,go ahead and tell the family that just lost thier daughter that the kind gesture made by pixar was just a publicity stunt.im sure that will go over well.thier already going through enough without people like you questioning the sincerity of said act.my point is,regardless if they did it for selfish purposes or because they genuinely wanted to make this girls passing easier,who are you to question it and take away that memory from them.seriously,show some respect and think before you speak.

[daffey]

the Too Cynical meter just hit full. Sure there are many gestures of kindness. The family could have contacted the media, a friend, who knows? Assume a little of the good once in a while. It does no harm.

[newname]

thats about the saddest thing ive ever heard...

[Tzimisce]

Amazingly, it's the 2nd thing I've read tonight that actually made me cry... and I'm a 25-year-old man.

[CintiBlue]

Thanks, Tzimice.

Sometimes, we just need such.

[IndependenceDame]

My deepest sympathy to the Curtin family.

[rabiddog6708]

With all the negative stories in the world, it is nice to read where a little humanity was shown to someone. My condolences to the family and friends of Colby Curtin.

[sleek]

Little Colby may not be around any longer but she has touched the lives of many forever.