Starlight Starbright Foundation puts spark in one Purcell teen's life
Starlight Starbright Foundation puts spark in one Purcell teen's life

By James S. Tyree Comments 0
Published: August 5, 2008

PURCELL — The memory of Michelle Henderson's 17-year-old son leaving Purcell to follow his rock 'n' roll dream in California nearly brings her to tears. Tears of joy.

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Craig Henderson, 17, plays his Guitar Hero guitar in his Purcell living room. He recently won a trip to California. BY JOHN CLANTON, THE OKLAHOMAN

Last month she accompanied her son, Craig, to Santa Monica, Calif., where they visited the company that makes Guitar Hero, a video game series in which players use guitar-shaped controllers to try to match guitar riffs of actual rock songs.

Craig Henderson earned the trip for two by winning a Guitar Hero contest among kids and teens in Starbright World, an online community created by the Starlight Starbright Children's Foundation for seriously ill children.

"He was inquisitive about everything, and it was amazing to see him so happy,” she said of the trip. "He was carefree like he was before; it was a break from everything he's had to deal with.”

Craig has spent nearly half his life battling serious and even life-threatening illnesses, starting with acute lymphosytic leukemia at age 9.

He went through chemotherapy, which didn't work, but got better after receiving bone marrow donated by his sister, Shelli.

The leukemia went into remission, but Craig developed graft-vs.-host disease from the transplant. The ailment, in which immune cells from the donated marrow attacks the host, has affected Craig's skin, mobility and mouth and dries his eyes.

And last October, Craig was diagnosed with autoimmune hepatitis, which means his immune system is attacking his liver.

He has spent a lot of time in hospitals over the years, sometimes weeks at a time, which led the former socially active youth baseball player to become a homeschooler.

But whenever possible, Craig shrugs off his circumstances and tries to lead as normal life as possible.

The two worlds came together in May when Activision had a contest to raise money for the Starlight Starbright Children's Foundation. Competitors from around the country tried to post the highest score while playing Monster's "Matchbook Romance.”

The winners and their guests were shuttled by limousine, took a three-hour tour of the company, and were surprised and thrilled to play Guitar Hero versions that had yet to be released — Aerosmith and World Tour, which includes other instruments.

"I didn't expect that at all, and it was awesome,” Craig said, with his face lighting up. "I loved playing the drums.”

Now that he's back in Purcell, Craig is working toward completing a GED and he hopes to enter culinary school and become a chef.

Michelle is glad her son had the California experience.

"This kind of returned his spark,” she said.