As you know, Toireasa will be NAMED in the upcoming production of CATS in Hartford, Connecticut, directed by Billy Johnstone. I wanted to share with you the letter I wrote his students/cast/crew to thank them for all they are doing. Since most of what happened to us, happened because of the fans I wanted to share it with you...
Dear Friends,
I just wanted to take a few minutes out of your class time to say hello and tell you a little about me, my daughter and what CATS means to us.
My daughter Toireasa (Toy-ray-sa) was born January 7, 1997, 8 pounds 9 1/2 ounces at 4:19 pm in Washington DC. She was born with 4, yes 4, kidneys and a balloon in her bladder. At 9 weeks she had her first surgery to open that balloon and prevent the kidneys from failing. Other than that she was a normal kid. She had copper red hair and brown eyes just like her mom.
Then on May 22, 2000, at 3 years and 4 months, she was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma, a devastating form of childhood cancer. Neuroblastoma starts off in the adrenal glands, the ones that sit just above the kidneys, and then spreads rapidly throughout the body affecting all parts of the nervous system. There are 5 stages to Neuroblastoma, and Toireasa had the most aggressive, and the least curable form.
I had introduced CATS to Toireasa as a way of introducing music theatre to her. I am a violist and our whole family is into music in one way or another. When we found out that she had Neuroblastoma and that we were going into the hospital for surgery, she asked me to go home first and get her video of CATS. Well needless to say throughout the recovery period of the surgery and the 5 rounds of chemotherapy that followed, CATS was played constantly -- we went through 2 videotapes that summer!
In July of 2000, Make-A-Wish came to Children's National Medical Center in Washington, DC and asked Toireasa what her wish was. Toireasa turned them away. She didn't want to talk to anyone in the hospital. Well the good-hearted people left telling me that if she changed her mind to call them.
That afternoon Toireasa and I were watching regular TV and a commercial came on announcing that CATS would be closing on Broadway that September. And just as matter of factly as she could, Toireasa announced that she wanted to see CATS before it closed. Well I called Make-A-Wish the next day. Toireasa was released from the hospital the following day and we met the crew from Make-A-Wish at a local mall. The volunteers could not believe that she wanted to see the musical CATS. They tried to get her to go to Disney World, or the San Diego Zoo to see the "big cats". Toireasa told them no and here's what she said:
I want to see CATS on Broadway before it closes. You see the story is a lot like me. My Mairona (aka grandma) is Skimbleshanks because we like to ride the train together. My Papa is Rum Tum Tugger because he's really cool. My Uncle Mike and Stella are Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer because they are really silly. My Aunt Ellen is Jennyanydots because she loves to dance. My Aunt Sheila is Jemima because she takes care of us. My mommy is Munkostrap because she fights my cancer like he fights Macavity. And you know the ladder at the end? Well it's not a ladder at all! It's the hand of God coming down to give Grizabella a second chance like He is giving me. But Mistoffelees? He is my favorite. He's the magic cat. He takes all the pain away. He even brings Old Deuteronomy back!
Well that floored them. And about a month later we saw CATS on Broadway and met Billy Johnstone for the first time. Toireasa, who wouldn't speak to anyone at the hospital, returned from NYC full of life and hope. She was a changed kid -- everyone was totally amazed.
She collected stuffed cats, and each one of them looked just like the costumes in the video. Her favorite -- of course, Mistoffelees. Misto never left her side, and was the only cat in the history of any hospital to don scrubs and join Toireasa in the operating room.
Then on October 31, 2000 she took a turn for the worse. I got a phone call from Billy who told me that he was on his way down from NYC. And he showed up in full costume! All the kids on the floor loved it -- especially Toireasa who couldn't take her eyes off him. That evening she ended up in ICU attached to several machines and went into a coma. Two weeks later we received a letter from Cameron MacIntosh -- faxed to the ICU! -- telling Toireasa that he loved her and hoped that she got better soon. Well the first time that my daughter responded to anyone was when I read her Cameron's letter. She was taken off the ventilator the very next day. We found out three weeks later she was in remission.
We ended up changing her care to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. And the Saturday after Thanksgiving of 2000 we had a luncheon in NYC where most of the Broadway cast members came to see Toireasa. It was an absolutely wonderful time.
She continued to grow stronger until October 2001 when she relapsed. She turned 5 January 2002 and we went to NY where Cameron flew in from London to meet her and Billy joined us for a wonderful reunion.
Toireasa gained her angel wings April 24, 2002 at 4:13 pm watching CATS. On May 1, 2002 her celebration was held at the Shrine for St. John Neuman here in Philadelphia. Among our honored guests were Shidan Majidi (Cameron's assistant) and a young man named Lenny Daniel (Alonzo from Broadway). Memory was sung by a dear friend of ours. Ricky Russell, most recently in the off-Broadway production of Porterphiles was our Cantor and Soloist. But the most beautiful moment came at the beginning of the service when a young dance troupe called Spirit in Motion from New Hope Pennsylvania walked down the aisle in beautiful red robes holding hurricane lamps with candles in them leading Toireasa to the altar. These young dancers were all about the age you are now and were introduced to me by Billy. They have all gone on to college or are in their last years of high school. I stay in touch with them as often as I can.
CATS will always be a part of me and my family. I have met some truly wonderful people from around the world -- and I still keep in touch with everyone of them. From the cast members of Mexico, Australia, Germany, Japan to the numerous fans around the world, I can't begin to tell you how much the FAMILY of CATS means to me. And I can't begin to thank your teacher, Billy Johnstone or begin to repay him for all he has done for my family over the years. He is my friend and confidant. Billy has always there when I needed him.
Toireasa was buried with Mistoffelees in her arm. I have a duplicate here in my room along with Victoria, Munkostrap and a host of others. The collection of CATS memorabilia that has been sent to me takes up most of an entire storage unit. Toireasa was given a computer in April 2001 from a group of fans that stretched all over the world from Italy, Germany, Sweden, Scotland and here in the US. I continue to use this computer every day. One of the most beautiful stories written for Toireasa was the CATS Fans Goodbye. I read it to Toireasa the day before she gained her wings.
There is so much more that I can tell you and if you have any questions at all about CATS, Toireasa's understanding of the musical or just want to say hi, don't hesitate to email me at anytime. Your teacher will give you my address.
Lenny Daniel wrote something at Toireasa's celebration that I want to share with you:
"Up Up Up to the Heavyside Layer! Thanks for teaching us all about the magic and believing in it brings us such strength and courage. Thanks for teaching all us Cats!!"
You are the next generation of CATS. It's more than just a musical. It's a story of hope.
Thank you for keeping Toireasa's Dream alive and I look forward to meeting all of you soon.
Much love and admiration,
Julia Barry
Mom to Angel Toireasa
"I want the pain to stop. I don't want any other children to hurt like me."
Toireasa's Dream
www.caringBridge.org/page/toireasa
The Jellicle Chronicles
"GOODBYE -- A Tribute to our Jellicle Princess, Toireasa"
http://jelliclechronicles.org/GOODBYE.htm