Tory has a dream
Lemonade for Life
Learn how you can help fight rheumatoid arthritus!
An inspirational short story
Presented by Terry Lynch
Naturalist, Photographer, Journalist
"This site is produced in memory of Tory Tilford, a young girl with a big heart and dancing eyes who died in 1992. Tory is much missed by her family and friends. Although she suffered from from rheumatoid arthritis, she had a bright spirit and her eyes beamed with happiness from the joy and love which filled her heart. Although I knew her only briefly from afar, I saw in that glimpse a shooting star!"
|
Tory Tilford was six years old when I met her. I only knew her very briefly but that brief encounter inspired this story which I would like to share. It is not really my story so much as it is Tory's story. But now that she is gone it is everyone's story, a reflection of a young girl's life and dream to be a cheerleader and how that came to be.
One of the first thoughts Tory related to me was that she liked Mexican pizza and her favorite color is red. She said she loves her two pet cats Lucy and Barny. That was some 18 years ago. Tory would be about 24 now. Only I learned just yesterday she passed from this world in 1992.
Tory also told me she enjoyed playing with her favorite friends Regina, Leah and Pia. She said that she studies hard in school and dreams of one day being a cheerleader. Her parents love and cherish her... I remember Tory's tiny voice coming over the telephone. She was enthusiastic, quite much so given the fact she suffered from juvenile rheumatoid arthritis which many people might have thought wouldn't help her become a cheerleader.
I originally wrote this story about Tory pecking away at my old Underwood typewriter. At the time computers in the home were not even unheard of. Now as I recall the glimpse I had into Tory's life I'm using a desktop system that I build for myself. I've written other such stories about celebrities who have touched my life and who are now pasted from this good Earth. Tory wasn't a celebrity. She was just a young girl with a dream to one day be a cheerleader.
Who was going to tell Tory that she couldn't be a cheerleader? Well, I for one believe in miracles and it wasn't going to be me! In fact, given the support of family and community I believed at the time their wasn't anything that Tory should not be able to accomplish. Indeed, Tory was already well on her way to becoming a cheerleader, not the pompon, rooting, tooting football fan rousing type, but a much more significant and important variety of cheerleader. Tory was the 1984 Arthritis Poster Child for the South Central Alabama Branch of the Arthritis Foundation. As Poster Child, Tory was working toward achieving her dream, a dream which fortune had brought in a different form, yet a dream realized none-the-less.
In late March of 1984 Tory met with Governor George C. Wallace and posed for poster child pictures. Her eyes sparkled and she smiled brightly as the cameras flashed. It was on this occasion that I met Tory and later that night over the telephone she told me about her dream to be a cheerleader. Tory's exact words in reply to my inquiry regarding what she wanted to do when grown were, "I'm working on a cheerleader." I think her phrasing was quite exact and to the point. For Troy was working right then to make her dream come true.
Tory's dream came one step closer when the Cloverdale High School cheerleaders made her an honorary cheerleader. This was during the Arthritis Foundation's Telethon on April 29, 1984, which was broadcast locally in Montgomery, Alabama, by WCOV Channel 20. At that time Tory was to meet with such local celebrities as WLWI's Rubarb Jones. Tory was to cheer the hearts of Alabamians and help the Arthritis Foundation's National Organization raise over a million dollars! Then thought the coming year Tory was to continue to serve as Poster Child, but equally important to her, she would be working to realize her cheerleader dream.
Presented to Tory Tilford
Honorary Cloverdale Cheerleader
April 19, 1984
Unfortunately Tory was not able to appear at the Telethon. She had to be hospitalized and missed this presentation. But a wooden plaque in the shape of the Arthritis Foundation's logo had been made for Tory which read, "Presented to Tory Tilford Honorary Cloverdale Cheerleader April 19, 1984." It was a plaque made by Jim Harkins, a master carpenter who usually built furniture. Jim was my uncle and I had taken the liberty of going to Cloverdale High School and meeting with the cheerleaders to tell them about Tory's dream. They all enthusiastically agreed to make Tory an honorary cheerleader and presented the plaque during the Telethon. Tory's father and brother were there for the presentation and sometime later Tory was able to attend the Cloverdale cheerleader tryouts.
Thinking back of how much Tory did to help others who must struggle with arthritis, a disease afflicting 36 million American, many of whom are beautiful children like Tory, one wonders what caring adults can do to assist in the fight against arthritis? Many people can well afford to contribute money. Others can volunteer their time. Still others can lend their talents or energy in the fight to develop better treatments and therapy for arthritis. But most importantly we all can cheer along in memory of Tory and those like her, lending our support and encouragement to their dreams, no matter how futile those dreams might at first seem. There is nothing beyond reach and often it is the Torys of the world who in their innocence enable the most impossible dreams to be achieved.
|
TORY
But if they could see inside
I can dance
A happy, funny teenager, Tory loved God, her family, friends, pets, school, shopping, football and basketball games, boys, talking on the phone, ushering at the Shakespeare Festival, and most of all, working in kindergarten. People responded to Tory with the very best of themselves. Thanks to her teachers and her friends, who made imaginative and innovative accommodations for her, she was always included. Tory lived her brief life fully and with remarkable freedom.
If I could just turn out the lights
So many people gawk and stare
But if they could see inside
I can dance
They see my body.
So maybe if the lights blew out
Maybe then
She looked out from behind her mask
She cried from behind the mask
|
Other inspirational sites
You are cordially invited to visit these other inspirational sites
After Life Songs -- John Denver Tribute
Memorial tribute produced to honor singer/songwriter John Denver
Gift of Love Share the spirit of Christmas all year long with these delightful Christmas tunes and greetings.
Elder Rights Association Help reform the broken elder care system!
Associates
Support the Angel of Life Foundation
End the worldwide malaria epidemic!
Save one million lives per year!
Lemonade for Life
Lemonade for Life enables and empowers individuals, groups and organizations to raise awareness and funds using original, unique and high quality graphic design products. These items have popular appean and may enhance your fund raising efforts! For example, individuals and businesses may now purchase such items as t-shirts, mugs and calendars and thereby help raise awareness to champion their favorite cause, which is the first vital step in finding cures for disease. Many new design items are exhibited in the Byteland Art Gallery and will be promoted on assoicates sites. Thank you for your patronage.
Copyright © 2002-2010 by Terry Lynch. All Rights Reserved. Acknowledgements: Original poetry by Tory Tilford and "A brief biographical sketch" were submitted and are used with permission by Grace Tilford. Family, friends or loved ones may contribute photographs or other material to update this memorial site and tribute. Please send items via email to webmaster.