heidi | (no subject)

It is with great sadness that I share the news about this post from Dave O'Brien, who has been cowriting Anna Grayson & the Order of Merlin with his daughter Katie. He posted the following on FA:

It is with deep regret that I must inform you that my daughter, Katie O'Brien, passed away on March 9th, 2005 at 7am EST at the age of thirteen. Obviously, this is a very difficult time for me, my wife Rita, and our son Christopher. Katie struggled with her Leukemia for five and a half years both in and out of the hospital, and as many of you already know, she had to go back to Johns Hopkins Hospital the first week of January, after it was determined her cancer had fallen out of remission the week after Christmas.

Katie always wanted to be a writer, and she used this forum to fulfill her dreams. For those of you who have been reading her book, Anna Grayson and The Order of Merlin, you should know that your reviews and constant emails and prayers sustained her even during the worst of times. She never wanted to let her readers down, even during those long days and nights in the hospital when there was so much pain. As a father, these are terribly sad days indeed, but as her co-writer, I wanted you to know that Katie did finish her book just six days before she died. I have her final notes in my possession, and I'll be posting her three final chapters in the weeks to come.

Again, I cannot express in words how much this fan fiction site meant to Katie. You truly did fulfill my daughter's dream of being a writer. Thank you all for your on going support and prayers, and your kind reviews over the last two years.

You can read his beautiful eulogy for Katie there, as well. We're talking now about some way for FA to remember Katie and the beauty of her spirit...