I decided I should start off with a cute Vegas “bucket list” story that hopefully will leave you smiling before I write about the hard week ahead. On this particular day Mom and I were sitting on a shuttle bus on the way to our room when we passed the MGM hotel and I looked up in shock at a huge banner. I pointed to this larger than life portrait of David Copperfield who was performing that weekend and I could not believe it. I have always wanted to see him perform but thought it was impossible. Mom smiled at me and said “You never know maybe we can get some tickets.” I of course laughed at the absurdity that we would find last minute tickets. Besides we were only there for a couple of days for a specific reason (which will be unveiled at a later time). I surely was not prepared for this extra excitement.

Before I realized it the hours flew by but it seemed like only minutes. Next thing I knew there I was standing with David Copperfield tickets in my hand that my mom just purchased. I felt like I needed someone to put life on pause while I tried to catch up. I could not believe my luck, good fortune, or just plain old divine intervention. I was going to go see one of my idols.

We were ushered to our seats, and I was really excited because we had such a great view of the stage. I still could not believe our luck. Here I was waiting for one of the greatest magicians of all time to come out on stage. What type of illusions was he going to perform? I felt like a five year old child waiting to lick the cake batter off a wooden spoon.

I was in a considerable amount of pain that day but there was no way I was going to miss this show. So I took some pain medication right before the lights were turned off. The show started out with a feature film introduction about magic; the underlying message being if you just believe, anything is possible. I started to tear up because it was an emotional video, and it struck a chord inside my heart.

When the video ended I was of course still crying and a waitress came up to us for our drink orders. Usually I am quite shy now since my brain surgeries, but being on narcotics makes me absolutely the “Chatty Cathy”. She took one look at me and sweetly asked why I was crying and what had brought us to Vegas. I explained to her that we were at the show to see David Copperfield because he was on my bucket list. She smiled, patted my hand, and said “How sweet, I will be right back with your drinks”.

The show continued with amazing illusions and great old school magic that makes you laugh. I cheered, hooted, and clapped as loud as I wished. Now I am sure I upset some people around me because I can be loud. But for once I didn’t care what people thought. I was in the middle of living one of my dreams ever since I was a child.

I just beamed at my mom. By this point I had been smiling (along with some tears) for almost an hour. As the show drew to a close this young lady came up to our table adorned with the name tag, Ashley. She asked to speak with the girl who has brain tumors. I was taken back a little bit and was unsure wether I should admit I was that girl. Had I upset people? Was I being too loud (as always)? Oh my gosh did I disrupt David Copperfield? My mother on the other hand pointed to me and said, “That would be my daughter”.

Well I looked at Ashley and tried to give her puppy dog eyes because I thought for sure I was in trouble. For me, looking innocent and sweet, is just plain old impossible. For years I have been told I have a harsh exterior and am very hard to approach. Keeping this key personality trait in mind you can understand I am not so great at the damsel in distress look.

Ashley turned to me and said, “David Copperfield would like to meet you after the show if you can make it down the stairs and to that door”. My eyes followed the extension of her arm as she was pointing to a small door to the right of the stage. First off I thought it was a joke until I looked at my mother’s face as well and she was in as much shock as I. It was in that moment I realized the significance of what Ashley had just said. I just nodded my head up and down to agree and she left with a smile.  I grabbed my mother’s arm so hard she had a bruise the next day.

We made our way down to the door, where security and Ashley led us into this dark corridor. I started thinking to myself that indeed I was dreaming, that I was stuck in a dream. I was in such shock my body physically started shaking. The more I tried to stop my muscles from shaking the harder I shock. My teeth were chattering I was shaking so bad, and I was still crying.

Then from behind Ashley these two big doors opened and out came David Copperfield all by himself. If I thought I was going to pass out two seconds ago clearly I was going to   pass out now. No joke. I was in such shock as he approached me I thought he was floating on air. Honest to God. I continued to cry (harder) and by this point I can’t even see out of my glasses they are so steamed up.

David Copperfield came right up to me and asked if I was Pamela. I couldn’t even speak. All I could do was cry and shake like a sissy school girl. Needless to say I was unable to answer any of his questions as my lips simply would not move. Thank God my mother was able to speak to him and tell him what this meant to me; meeting David Copperfield, actually physically meeting him.

I just want to also point out he had to literally hold me up so I was not falling over. He kept squeezing my shoulders and saying “It’s ok, you don’t have to cry”. He was actually trying to comfort ME! But I just could not stop crying. He was so sweet and signed a program for me. Then he asked us if we had a camera. Of course we did not bring one because we were told no photography allowed, and of course we actually followed the rules. So David Copperfield then turned to Ashley and said “Take one on your iPhone for her”.

Through the marvel of technology she pulled out her iPhone and before I knew it she snapped a picture of us. David Copperfield and I. This just had to be a dream. Then kindly he said “Take another one incase it doesn’t turn out, and then another one of us with her mom.” Once this was done he said goodbye and with a smile went on his way. He went back through the two large doors into a loud, private crowd who were waiting for him. They had paid extra to meet him and he was giving them their money’s worth.

But not I. I did not pay an extra penny. This act of sheer kindness was done on his own time, right after a show, just for me! Now I would love to ramble about all the philosophical discussions I had with David Copperfield, and about how he answered all my questions with peaked interest. Honest truth is I didn’t stop shaking and crying like a sissy little girl. I didn’t even talk with him.

When all was said and done mom and I continued on to our hotel room for the night. I was so dizzy and quite frankly in such shock that I don’t even remember going to bed that night. I can’t express enough gratitude to all his staff and the part they played in this miracle meeting. The kindness he showed me will be forever cherished.

I still believe that if I did not have a picture to prove I was not dreaming that night, I would never have thought it was reality.

Pamela