It Ain't Hemingway

(This is a repost of a post I wrote many years ago about Deb Charlton who died this past Wednesday. I thought I’d share it one more time.)

I have been a music fan my whole life but growing up the bigger the star the more likely you and your friends would both be fans. Never was there any kind of music connection as there is today. Back then if you liked country you were probably southern, if you liked rock and roll you were probably a teenager, if you liked R&B you were probably black, and if you liked Bruce you were probably from New Jersey. There were no indie bands or indie stations there was not much diversity at all. I think one of the smartest things that bands like Pearl Jam and KOL have done is to include these social networks onto their websites.

I first went on to the KOL site before the MSG concert. I perused the site and contributed to the blogs and quickly made friends. As we all know it’s taken us Yanks awhile to catch onto the greatness of the Kings. The really cool thing about that is the amazing friends I have made from across the pond. This brings me to why I’m writing you this story; to tell you about my dear friend Deborah Charlton.

Debs was one of the very first people I connected with, she praised me for my funny stories and loved my play-by-play commentary about the MSG show. She explained that due to a liver condition she was in a wheelchair and if she could she would attach a jetpack to the back of her chair so she could hover over the stage while the band played. I instantly loved her after playing that visual in my head. My kinda gal. We quickly became friends and have pretty much spoken via the Internet every day since.

Debs is a single mother of a beautiful 11yr old named Amber. Deb had a liver transplant a few years back but it has since failed and she awaits another to be available. She recently started taking shots that help reduce the swelling of her organs so she can breathe properly and be strong enough to receive a second transplant. From what I understand, the shots are equivalent to Chemo and leave Deb very ill. She isn’t having much luck with the shots. She feels they aren’t working and have more of a negative result for her.

Debs was recently selected by the Willow Foundation to receive a special occasion of her choosing. This is much like the Make A Wish Foundation who grants wishes to the terminally ill, an organization probably more familiar with Americans. Deborah has chosen to see the Kings of Leon at the O2 on the 30th of June. I don’t think there’s anything else I need to say about how big of a fan she is after writing that.

The dress has been purchased and the new red shoes have been described in perfect detail to her KOL friends, and I have no doubt we are all just as excited for her as she is for herself. There is no one who deserves this more then Debs. She truly is the sweetest, kindest, most positive and freakishly funny people I have ever known. Many nights have been spent up late; me due to insomnia she because the morphine makes her wired; doubled over with laughter unable to complete a sentence. The next day I would always receive an email from my precious friend thanking me for our late night gabs that made her feel better. How she’s able to make me feel so special when she is going through so much pain is amazing.

Deb has found much strength and love among the KOL community and I truly feel her love for the music and the friends she has made have kept her going. We need Deb to be strong and get through this tough time so she becomes well enough to even receive the liver she so greatly needs. All I ask of you is to pray pray pray. Whatever you believe or not believe we need to send positive words and thoughts her way. Believe me, when I tell you this is a special person. If you ever meet her or talk to her online you are truly lucky. My wish for Debbie is to be standing at the concert with her daughter by her side dancing away in her red shoes and sexy denim dress looking as beautiful on the outside as she is on the inside with nothing but a bright and healthy future with many many concerts ahead of her.

Please leave Debbie a comment here, on the KOL site, her facebook page, or twitter.

Thank you!

Debs friend Christina

xoxo xoxo

Debbie and her Daughter Amber

facebook friends of Debs check out her info page for additional contact information.

Information on the Willow Foundation