A story from the heart!!!

[BobD]

Hi everyone,
I just got this e-mail, and I have to share--with tears in my eyes.

My name is William Johnston and I have a 8 year old son that has bone

cancer. To make a long story short, my son Clayton developed a love of

knives during his chemo treatments. It was during this time that I contacted

Allen Elishewitz who gracitiously provided a custom folding knife for

Clayton, he also posted a "thread" on several of the knife forums. One of

the people from the forums was a gentleman named Walter Fraker. Mr. Fraker

was a "Wood Carver", and he showed considerable interest in Clayton. It

turned out that Mr. Fraker also had cancer and was willing to provide

Clayton with not only someone to talk too but someone to share his new found

interest in knives and carving (Clayton received a "whittling" knife and

likes to whittle sticks with me on the front porch). Our work not like the

carvings that we find in your magazine but it is something to strive for.

As for the reason for this e-mail, yesterday July 6th Clayton received

your magazine "Wood Carving Illustrated" in the mail. Clayton and I poured

over the magazine looking at the wildlife carvings, Clayton was very

impressed with the "Birds". So I sent a note to Walt Fraker thanking him for

his gift of the magazine. I was assuming that he had sent it, as he was the

only carver that we had talked to. Sadly I received a note back from his

wife Darleen that Walt Fraker had lost his battle with cancer on June 23rd.

Mr. Fraker never knew that the gift of your magazine reached Clayton. Walt

showed compassion for a boy that he had never meet but shared a common

thread with, there struggle with cancer.

William went on to tell me that Clayton has recently broken his "donor" leg and will be going in for surgery again--and will be in a cast for a couple weeks.

We've decided at Fox Chapel, to do something a little special for Clayton, and I wanted you all to hear about this as well. I'm going to include a couple chunks of basswood for Clayton to practice on...

Bob

[wade clark]

What a story. I hope Clayton's doing better. I've read it right here, carving is wonderful therapy...I hope Clayton is carving for a long and healthy life!
Where do they live? I'm a member of the National Auctioneers Association. I and most other Auctioneers do fund raising Auctions for good causes at no charge. I'll try to find an Auctioneer in his area, through the NAA, and see if somehow we can help.
I hope they have insurance to cover this. So many folks don't.
Thanks for the post.
Wade

[Ashbys]

Bob,

Is there an address for Clayton? Or we could we send something to you to forward to him.
Thanks for letting us know this.

Garry

[JIM QUILICI]

I was very lucky to personally know Walt Fraker. I have no idea where he got all of endurance. when the doctor told his wife Darleen that he only had 10 days or less to live. he was so dedicted to carving he had his daughter and his wife put him in a wheel chair and took him to the carving gathering. he was so weak that you had to get about a foot from him to hear what he was saying. But he still carved and was still helping people who had questions and helping others. Boy will this GREAT guy be missed. even in his weakened state he had a palm tool that tom wolfe personally carved a face on he showed this to everyone . people may not know who the mayor of our city is BUT they knew who WALTER FRAKER was.

just old jimSad

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

It is sad to lose the really good ones! Maybe Walt Fraker should be listed in our memoriam section, he couldn't have better company than Big'un Gibbs!! (sorry should put Curtis Gibbs for those that aren't familiar with Big'un!)

[Colin-Partridge]

What a heart rendering story, I also have tears in my eyes Bob. Isnt it a shame that people pass thru this world and sometimes are forgotten soon after they pass on. With Clayton's family I am sure Mr Frakers memory will always live on with them. Also his wonderful carvings will also be a reminder of his important gift he gave to this world. My thoughts go back instantly to Curtis Gibbs who also passed on recently although I had never met him I always admired his carvings. I still have contact with Charlotte from time to time. I think this is important because many of us (myself included) always put a monitery value on our carvings but every time my family or grandson's show interest in my work I give it too them. That value cannot ever be replaced by money. My prayers go out to Clayton and to the Fraker family what a wonderful gift he gave to a young boy.
Colin

[Donna_T]

What a touching story. Thanks, Bob, for sharing it with us. It reminds us of what is really important in life. I've said it before and I'll say it again, some of the best people in the whole wide world are wood carvers (and many of them are here on this board.) They'd give you the shirt off their back to help someone else--even when they are hurting, too.

Wanting a new tool, or trying to decide what to carve next, or all the other issues we have, aren't nearly as important as helping our fellow man.

Donna T

[wade clark]

Thanks Donna. Not for reminding other Folks, but for telling me.
Wade

[Ashbys]

Bob,

Has there been any word on Clayton? Or when his next surgery is due ?

Ash

[beebee58]

Hello Everyone,

I'm Clayton's father. I was directed to this forum by Bob.
I just want to say to everyone that I'm very grateful for everyone' prayers. And that they have been answered.
Clayton's surgery was late Monday afternoon and everything went as planed, the doctor was able to "repair" his donor bone in his left thigh (femur). And there was no reoccurance of his cancer.
Having the "repair" is very good because if they had to "replace" the donor bone it would have ment 4-6 months in a cast and having to learn how to walk again. Now we just have to wait at least 6 weeks for his cast to come off (so much for the summer).
Clayton handled the surgery very well and was on morphine for only 1 day, the rest of the time he has been on codine. Clayton is becoming more like his old self each day. As he states, the pain subsides more with each passing day.
If anyone has any questions, please feel free to ask. As I have taken on the roll of a "Childrens Cancer Awareness Educator".

Thank You again,
William Johnston and Family