Nov. 16, 2001
James - brief news for Harry Potter day

As this week draws to a close it's a pleasure to be able to report that James is in better shape, that the tumour in his mouth is shrinking following Monday's radiation treatment, and that yesterday he was once again walking. Today the Harry Potter movie made its debut and I want to relate the Birrell angle. You need to know some background: Rebecca's best friend is also a Rebecca, Rebecca Ballarin to be precise. Our Rebecca and our Ben have no interest in the Harry Potter stories - they are too scary! But James has been eagerly reading the chronicles on his own, and so has Rebecca Ballarin. Both have been very excited ever since hearing that the movie would soon be coming out. For the last three weeks Rebecca Ballarin has been earnestly praying every night at bedtime that James would be well enough to go to the movie, and that she would be able to go with him and sit next to him. That prayer was nicely answered today, and you could not have found two happier children than James and Rebecca Ballarin.
Syd