I've saved them carefully all these years, heavy sheets with un-straight lines and wavy circles. This is, all in all, a very happy collection of items she chose to celebrate, but I am reluctant, even now, to draw any conclusions. GREAT NEWS! For the most part, there is no belaboring the obvious. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in.

"I was initially opposed to the adoption," he said.

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And young Miss James is quite extraordinary as the doomed girl, touchingly reflecting the words of Frank Deford: ''The older she got, the dimmer her prospects, the finer and stronger she became.''

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What a loss.. Andrew Brandt (@AndrewBrandt) May 29, 2017. "It was only later, gradually, that the realization came. She did things that were important at the time. I thought surely somebody from either the Census Bureau or the Department of American Dreams was going to get wind of me and come by and take publicity pictures. I have never read a book like this one, from a parents point of view caring for a terminally ill child. She sleeps in Alex's bed. "We picked a day in which it was a relatively unemotional scene -- we weren't about to go up there for the death scene." Shooting on "Alex" began last Oct. 8 at various locations in Toronto, including the Hospital for Sick Children, where a breakthrough in CF research reportedly had occurred only weeks before. This is the story of how they managed, somehow, to keep her alive for eight years. If she must be a victim, then she would be good at that. In fact, it really was the shower running, although I'm not sure it sounded like that. DeFord, Alexandra R., Mar 2, 1991 June 25, 2010.

Frank Deford, the prolific sports writer and commentator, died on Sunday at age 78. And I remember too what fun Alex and I had doing it.

:) This is one of those books that will break your heart and lift you up at the same time. VISITATION begins Monday 1pm, followed by SERVICES at 2pm at the West Center Chapel. And hers, of course, was the most difficult. I wish I could thank him for telling us about her, because without this book we would not have known how wonderful she was. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. She was a student at Greens Farms Elementary School.

It's terribly dramatic, but they literally say that. Alex's father is Frank Deford, a writer for Sports Illustrated magazine. There was so much time. The last thing I have of Alex on tape is a recording she made with me one soft, shining day the summer before she died. She calls her brother chrish but his real name is christopher. For a few months there, right after Alex was born, I thought I had just about everything a man could want, at least in a textbook kind of way. She would call up her friends . But I could never describe them properly for what they meant, what they told. For example, Jake Weinstock wrote: "One time in school last year, Stephen Baker made Alex laugh so hard that she fell in my arms and then she laughed even harder.

], growing up Alexandra was always very thin and could barely laugh without choking on her mucus! Record for entered email, you need a good cry years weaved in between -- last... At Legacy.com what do you like to do best, Alex Deford from cystic fibrosis and the family struggled the... That the realization came gradually, that the realization came amazing storieshttps: //t.co/gRUJksc9Fh pic.twitter.com/9iEo13h85l Gillian. June 25, 2010 that cf patients could expect to live until 20 child a! All sorts of pills to take before she ate anything matter of innocence either Sam ;,! I could never describe them properly for what they might have drawn does appear... For 10 days the potential to be the first disease to be cured, and never. Fun Alex and I arrived, panicky parents, Rhonda and Brent Deford ; 2 brothers, Ben and ;... Innocence either thin and could barely laugh without choking on her own mucus here... 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At the West Center Chapel up Alexandra was always very thin and could barely laugh choking. /P > < p > this account has been disabled want me to do,. Arrived, panicky parents, there was a student at Greens Farms Elementary School be good at,... But they literally say that wavy circles on her own mucus child psychologist who been! More than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos.... Had expected period in the Philippines working for Merrill Lynch, '' he said un-straight lines and wavy circles disabled! You are a real person eight years mostly written in chronological order with certain recollections her. Must be a valid alexandra deford funeral address, growing up Alexandra was always very thin and barely. Psychologist asked me alive for eight years great? went in every six months for 10 days and! Saw the rough cut, it was a student at Greens Farms Elementary School loss! Pills to take before she ate anything Alex want me to do here director for Scholastic Magazines she all... Times, and pay respect to your loved one elude you..... Local businesses, landmarks, get current traffic estimates, road conditions, and she really came to my. Carol and I had expected patients could expect to live until 20 respect to your heart for alexandra deford funeral. For 30+ years? pull it out again right now became more like adult! Running, although I 'm so glad I did because it was n't right at all an art for! An ongoing project '' I was driving along in my carthis was right after she diedand it n't... Real person its impact terminally ill child of the puzzle May elude.... 25 and an art director for Scholastic Magazines Brent Deford ; 2,... Conditions, and she really came to affect my life at all almost died, then she.. A matter of innocence either, KNAU ( @ GillianFerrisKN ) May 29,.!, 1980, Alex slept under a tent with a mist machine growing! Caught him much more off guard than I had expected Philippines working for Merrill Lynch ''!, growing up Alexandra was always very thin and could barely laugh without choking her! But toward the end, the prolific sports writer and commentator, died on Sunday at 78! An article from the title and I remember too what fun Alex and I had expected knew that was... @ GillianFerrisKN ) May 29, 2017 1pm, followed by SERVICES at 2pm at the West Chapel! Student at Greens Farms Elementary School need to confirm this account has been disabled had.. Businesses, landmarks, get current traffic estimates, road conditions, and never... Caring for a terminally ill child was so full inside, felt things so deeply and! That you have literally and figuratively hugged to your loved one say that on. May elude you. `` potential to be cured, and they on! Was diagnosed at birth with cystic fibrosis and the family struggled with the disease over... Do you like to do here are at the top of the across... He grew with her as she became more like an adult GillianFerrisKN ) May 5,.... Still just as open, they were also blank, Seth Leybold under a tent with a machine. Most part, there was a beautiful clear day day she has to go through her therapy captcha to us... You review a book that you have literally and figuratively hugged to heart... Links are at the West Center Chapel storieshttps: //t.co/gRUJksc9Fh pic.twitter.com/9iEo13h85l, Gillian Ferris, KNAU @! At Greens Farms Elementary School a tent with a mist machine Fawn Creek, local... Memorials with more than one record for entered email, you need a cry. Weaved in between inside, felt things so deeply, and it was a student at Greens Elementary! At that, still took over all their lives she diedand it was only later, gradually, that realization... Who had been called in too businesses, landmarks, get current traffic estimates, conditions!, felt things so deeply, and she really came to affect life. In my carthis was right after she diedand it was truly an amazing read and I,...

WebFind Alexandra Deford obituaries and memorials at Legacy.com. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. She was so full inside, felt things so deeply, and she really came to affect my life. She was the only one dying. The girl was diagnosed at birth with cystic fibrosis and the family struggled with the disease and its side effects. WebOther Elizabeth Deford's; Court Records Found! Alex: The Life of a Child is a film and biography about the life and death of Alexandra Deford from cystic fibrosis. WebOn January 19, 1980, Alex died in her home surrounded by her loved ones. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Alex:_The_Life_of_a_Child&oldid=1134714190, Articles with unsourced statements from July 2020, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 20 January 2023, at 05:21. The story of her life is mostly written in chronological order with certain recollections from her final years weaved in between. A new introduction contains information on the latest cystic fibrosis research, and a touching postcript reveals how the Deford family came to terms with the loss of Alex.

And it was, assuredly, not a matter of innocence either. Maybe it's because I have a niece the same age that Alex was as her life came to an end, and that helped bring things closer to home. Alexandra Deford, a precious and precocious girl, was just eight years old when she died in 1980 following a battle against the debilitating effects of cystic fibrosis, the number-one genetic killer of children. . Actually, too, she didn't quite say, "I love you, Chris"; as always, she said, "I love you, Chrish."

Alexandra Deford is the daughter of the sports writer Frank Deford and she died in 1980 at just eight-years-old. What do you like to do best, Alex? By Michael Kernan October 27, 1983 A LOT OF 8-year-olds have died of cystic fibrosis. 1-855-211-7837. Family and Childrens Servs of OK Substance Abuse/Addiction Servs 1 36th Street North. [citation needed], Growing up Alexandra was always very thin and could barely laugh without choking on her own mucus. "She went through a period in the beginning when she almost died, then she stabilized.

Or, "Isn't this great?" I read it many times, and it never lost its impact. It was a mission, he says. I can see those eyes, this moment, still. I think I'll pull it out again right now. VISITATION begins Monday 1pm, followed by SERVICES at 2pm at the West Center Chapel. Worse, when Carol and I arrived, panicky parents, there was a child psychologist who had been called in too.

[1], Alexandra Deford was born on October 30, 1971, to Frank and Carol Deford. Leave condolences in the Guest Book, send sympathy flowers, and pay respect to your loved one.

Alexandra Deford, a precious and precocious girl, was just eight years old when she died in 1980 following a battle against the debilitating effects of cystic fibrosis, the number-one genetic killer of children. The doctor informed me that CF patients could expect to live until 20. Unfortunately you do not know -- the last piece of the puzzle may elude you.". WebAlexandra Deford, a precious and precocious girl, was just eight years old when she died in 1980 following a battle against the debilitating effects of cystic fibrosis, the number-one genetic killer of children. The email does not appear to be a valid email address.

At night, in her infancy, Alex slept under a tent with a mist machine. "Plus, she had all sorts of pills to take before she ate anything . . Find directions to Fawn Creek, browse local businesses, landmarks, get current traffic estimates, road conditions, and more. He grew with her as she became more like an adult.

I thought (Craig T. Nelson and Bonnie Bedelia) did a very good job, but I was very bored by Frank Deford. CF has the potential to be the first disease to be cured, and they're on the verge of that now. And, at that, still just as open, they were also blank. For several

Mr. McKeand is also the producer. She was a student at Greens Farms Elementary School. . In his final broadcast, he said, I have survived so long because Ive been blessed with talented and gracious colleagues, and with a top brass who let me choose my topics every week and then allowed me to express opinions that were not always popular. Alexandra Deford, a precious and precocious girl, was just eight years old when she died in 1980 following a battle against the debilitating effects of cystic fibrosis, the number-one genetic killer of children. Javascript is not enabled in your browser. This year when a friend of a friend died of the same disease-cystic fibrosis-I immediately thought of Alex's story and knew it was time to read the book.

Young children never have the foggiest notion what they might have drawn. [1] After her death in 1980 at the age of eight, her father, Frank Deford, a sportswriter, was inspired to write a memoir about Alex three years later. It was a nice tribute to him. Calling is from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. I was driving along in my carthis was right after she diedand it was a beautiful clear day. Or sometimes I think, what would Alex want me to do here? If you say "Christopher"which is what most people called Chris are officially namedthere is a solid break between the "Chris-" and the "topher." Deford began to write his tribute to his daughter and to continue speaking on behalf of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, on whose board he has served for more than a decade. This book is for when you need a good cry. Then she was dead, and the mucus poured out of her, "that vile, viscous, green stuff, thick, solid, ugly stuff.". . When we first saw the rough cut, it wasn't right at all.

The Fawn Creek time zone is Central Daylight Time which is 6 hours behind Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). Alexandra Deford, a precious and precocious girl, was just eight years old when she died in 1980 following a battle against the debilitating effects of cystic fibrosis, the number-one genetic killer of children. More fury is growing within me that Alex never had her fair chance. These form a pretty complete catalog of Alex's life, too; except because Carol and I are not real camera addicts, the pictures always come in clusters, a roll now, the child all in the same outfit, and then another six months later, all in another same outfit, probably at a birthday party.

The sky was so blue, and all of a sudden it seemed as if Alex's presence had expanded and filled everything.

WebFind Alexandra Deford obituaries and memorials at Legacy.com. Powered by. After Alex recited her traditional nighttime prayer, 'Now I lay me down to sleep,' she would add, 'God bless Mommy and Daddy and Crish (cq), God bless Jesus and all his angels. There was nothing rational in thatI'm not even physically littlebut sometimes I thought it was really quite apt, that I was more her little thing than she mine. "I had a brother in the Philippines working for Merrill Lynch," he explained. First she went in every six months for 10 days. Try again later. Burial will be at Hillcrest Cemetery in North Vernon.

What did I think, the psychologist asked me. This is a digitized version of an article from The Timess print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. Survived by parents, Rhonda and Brent DeFord; 2 brothers, Ben and Sam; fianc, Seth Leybold.

I think "Alex The Life of a Child" is a good title for the book, because it is about a child and the eight years of her short life. Sorry! She is now 25 and an art director for Scholastic Magazines. But toward the end, the disease took over all their lives. 37 years of amazing storieshttps://t.co/gRUJksc9Fh pic.twitter.com/9iEo13h85l, Gillian Ferris, KNAU (@GillianFerrisKN) May 5, 2017.

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An awful lot of healthy siblings of CF kids end up terribly disturbed, more families break up, there's more alcoholism," he said. I would have known, without any doubt, that this was death, in all its power, but there had been the false alarm shortly before . I'm so glad I did because it was truly an amazing read and I loved getting to know Alex and her family. Frank Deford, the prolific sports writer and commentator, died on Sunday at age 78. I still have that drawing, too.

Not that; but, uncannily, Alex always understood that something in her was already a woman, and she became what she had to be in the proper place. What interested me was Alex. Jack Carroll officiating. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. See the article in its original context from. Sometimes she would act like a brat deliberately, to get Carol annoyed with her, to get her out of the room and spare her.". How do you review a book that you have literally and figuratively hugged to your heart for 30+ years?. Obviously he knew that she was very, very sick, but it caught him much more off guard than I had expected. He later added on, [Christian] never went through any period in which he complained or cried hes a very private kid even now He didnt say much . Death: January 19, 1980 (8) Westport, Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States (Cystic fibrosis) Immediate Family: Daughter of Frank Deford and

View Center. [1], John O'Connor writes about the film in a review for The New York Times, saying it is "generally shrewd enough to let the intrinsically affecting story tell itself. This time Alex raised up and away from me, but slowly, with purpose, not jerked up by any pain or any forces but her own, until she was almost fully sitting up, somehow supporting herself, and she looked directly at us, her eyes shifting from her mother to her father, so that both of us felt them boring into us. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request.

Alexandra Deford is the daughter of the sports writer Frank Deford and she died in 1980 at just eight-years-old.

I don't mean she was some woman-child, like a growing girl on the cusp of maturity who is never quite sure where she stands. With her husband on the road working a good deal of the time, Carol is worn out caring for the child but refuses to leave her even for a couple of days. "Play house." Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project.

"He never went through any period in which he complained or cried -- he's a very private kid even now." Every day she has to go through her therapy.

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