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
As my star rises and my fame widens I am reminded almost daily to always stay humble and remain true to myself because fame is a monster and can take a person over quickly .
I hope to be someone's make a wish some day that would be an awesome honor ! When I launch my next campaign for Sins of Man II : Vengeance I will donate a portion of the funds raised to the Make A Wish foundation because they do amazing work and need the support .
This story has touched me so deeply that from this point forward with EVERY Campaign Wicked Carnival Productions runs we will donate a portion of the funds raised to a selected Charity . I support many charities so the charity will change with each Campaign .
I want to GIVE BACK to people because it's the right thing to do and it's celebrities like Ryan Reynolds that I look up to because they care about people and I think he would even if he wasn't an international film star, maybe it's the Canadian in him something we share is being Canadian (my Great (Great) Grandparents)
I know he'll never read this blog but THANK YOU RYAN REYNOLDS for showing the world that celebrities like yourself have a heart and care about people . Reading this story has changed my life for the better and no matter how famous I become (or if I never become famous) I will always remember to GIVE BACK because it's the right thing to do .
I hand out meals during the summer to kids in my area through the local community center and that is how I currently give back to my community I want to start to do more in my community and beyond .
STAY HUMBLE, STAY HUNGRY MY FRIENDS :)