Dr. Bird and the Furniture Farm

There's a chapter in my new book called "Furniture Farm: The Tony Bottarini Story." Many who have read the book point to that story as one that brought them to tears. Indeed, Tony's story did evoke emotion and continues to do so. Tony was a brave young man who lived his darndest, in spite of the cancer that assaulted his body and continued to ravage it from the time he was 11 years old.

Tony died five days before his official graduation in 1986. His death touched many, just as did his life. More than 700 attended the balloon-fested memorial service for Tony in the gym at Sandpoint High School. Many of those 700, along with a lot of others, have never really left Tony Bottarini behind. They've taken with them his spirit and the example he set through their individual lives.

Tony not only impressed his classmates and teachers at Sandpoint High School, but his influence spread much further. He appeared on national television shows, including "Donahue" and "60 Minutes." These appearances resulted from his association with the Center for Attitudinal Healing where Tony had once lived in California. The center served as a setting for "kids to share experiences about death, life, sisters, brothers and general problems that occur in the home of a cancer patient."

So, long before he came to Sandpoint to inspire all of us teachers and his classmates, Tony had already been a television star. He was pretty humble about all that during the two years that I knew him. Instead, he focused a lot on living life the best he could in spite of all those trips to hospitals, the surgeries to remove his leg, later his arm, the treatments, the drugs, etc. Tony was engaged with the people around him. He appreciated school and constantly nurtured all the relationships he had formed at school, with his family friends and with his church youth group.

His death left a void, but his spirit filled many hearts.

So, why talk about Tony today? Well, there's going to be another person I know appearing on "60 Minutes" this Sunday night. His name is Dr. Forrest Bird. He's a world-famous inventor whose work has saved many lives through his inventions---namely respirators. He's also an aviator who has just opened an aviation museum on his property at Glengary on Lake Pend Oreille about 20 miles from Sandpoint.

Dr. Bird has been a well-known figure in these parts for decades. And, his devotion to his work has attracted some of the great minds from around the world to his Bird Air Lodge. His list of life achievements is beyond impressive, and those achievements, along with new aviation museum, attracted the "60 Minutes" crew to this area a few months ago to do the segment.

So, what does Dr. Bird have to do with Tony Bottarini, besides their appearance on "60 Minutes"? Well, here's the story, and it probably won't be included among the anecdotal accounts and interviewing in Sunday night's segment.

It's probably a small story in Dr. Bird's mind and most likely insignificant on his list of contributions. But, in my mind, it was as monumental and meaningful as anything he's ever done.

Shortly after Tony was crowned King of his Senior Prom in 1986, he ended up in a Portland hospital with lungs full of fluid. Also, a tumor on one of his arms had grown to the point that doctors amputated the arm. The outlook for Tony attending his graduation a few weeks later was dismal at best. We all knew it and felt helpless. As discussion of Tony's situation continued, however, an idea popped into the mind of our principal's wife.

Why not stage a graduation ceremony for Tony in his hospital room, Raye suggested, presenting him with his tassel and his diploma. Almost overnight, plans unfolded. The diploma would be ordered and sent directly to the hospital where Tony was staying. Jim Wilund, our principal, would fly to Portland to conduct the ceremony, with the idea of inspiring Tony to give it his all to make it to Sandpoint for the real commencement.

The next thing I knew, I had received instructions that, as one of Tony's close friends and teachers, I would accompany Jim. I was told how this all came to happen. Our secretary had talked to Dr. Bird, and he had donated the money for my airline ticket.

So, on that Friday, the week after the Senior Prom where Tony had reigned as king, Jim and I flew to Portland, met Tony's parents and conducted a very touching, upbeat graduation ceremony. Tony promised he'd do his best to be in Sandpoint to graduate with his classmates.

His spirit came, and that was enough for all those kids and adults who had loved that young man so much.

And, so when I watch Dr. Forrest Bird and his wife Pamela enjoy their moment in the "60 Minutes" spotlight this Sunday, I'll be happy to see a man honored for his great achievements, and once more I'll be feeling the gratitude toward his quiet and generous gesture that meant so much in my life as a teacher 21 years ago.

And, I'm sure Tony would be very happy to welcome Dr. Bird into the "60 Minutes" club.