Ezra update: Still recovering, playing World of Warcraft

February 29th, 2008, 10:15 am · 10 Comments · posted by Sonya Smith

**See Latest UPDATES below in links area **

**UPDATE: June 15, 2008: Warcraft fan’s cancer spreads but family remains upbeat **

Eleven-year-old Ezra Chatterton (or to WoW players, ePhoenix) became famous last spring after the Make A Wish Foundation offered to grant his wish to design characters for his favorite game, the World of Warcraft.

The Riverside fifth-grader was diagnosed with a metastatic brain cancer and his father, Micah, wrote to update us on his condition which is improving but still plagued by cancer.

The good news is that Ezra’s most recent MRI results surprised his doctors and Micah with 98 percent shrinkage of the primary brain tumor and similar reduction in the other smaller metastases in his brain and spine. Also, Micah says that Ezra has glasses, his first pair, that offset the damage to his optic nerve. That, Micah says, means that Ezra has been able to “get back to reading and playing WOW (rather than ordering me to go there, kill that, farm those, etc.),” along with watching Lakers games.

Still, Ezra is back in the hospital. Micah says it’s for an infection that he hopes is something mild. Also, Ezra is still undergoing chemotherapy — treatment that every day has a new effect, whether its chronic nosebleeds, nausea, seizure activity in his brain, or just plain exhaustion.

Micah says that, “During the darker days of a chemotherapy round, it’s difficult to see how far his recovery has actually come. The treatment has also left him open to various infections I’d never heard of, like pancreatitis, which are a nightmare.”

The treatment, Micah says, is a long, slow battle and Micah is still a long way away from going back to school. Still, Micah took the time to thank others for support during Ezra’s journey:

“I’d like to take this opportunity again to thank everyone who has responded to Ezra’s story, both in the World of Warcraft community and out of it, as well as those who have kept us in their thoughts and prayers. Your good will has been a miraculous comfort to us. I believe in my heart that all of you have had a hand in Ezra’s recovery, miraculous as it is to this point. Thank you so much for all the love you’ve shown us. It would have been so much more difficult for Ezra to get through this disease without you.”

The Ezra Chatterton archive:
**Update** Ezra Chatterton passed away on Oct. 20, 2008. Read his father’s tribute HERE.

* Aug. 21, 2008: Ezra Update: WoW fan with cancer suffers stroke
* June 15, 2008: WoW fan’s cancer spreads but family remains upbeat
*Feb. 29, 2008: Ezra update: Still recovering, playing World of Warcraft
* Sept. 28, 2007: Ezra Update: Warcraft fan has ups and downs
* July 18, 2007: Ezra update: Warcraft fan with cancer turns 11
* June 13, 2007: UPDATE: Condition of Warcraft fan with cancer improves
* May 31, 2007, Big screen for Ezra?
* May 25, 2007: Fund for Warcraft fan with cancer set up
* May 23, 2007: Gamers show their support for Ezra
* May 22, 2007: Images of Ezra’s WoW creations, thanks to Blizzard developers
* May 22, 2007: The original story and slideshow:Blizzard makes WoW wish virtual

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jason davis says:

March 3, 2008 at 6:31 am

ezra you stay strong im sry to hear you have cancer my dad was just diagnosed with brain cancer my heart goes out to you and your family keep playing wow maybe ill see you on

WoW Player says:

March 3, 2008 at 12:56 pm

ePhoenix is a Horde, and I am Alliance, so we cannot communicate in game. I ran into him while he was on his beautiful Phoenix mount, but he put it away. I spent the next 20 minutes doing charades for him… getting on and off of my mount in hopes that he would bring his Phoenix back out. Luckily he caught on and brought it back out.

What a friendly gesture from what is a truly magnificent young man. Thanks Ezra! Great to hear the good news.

Amanda says:

March 13, 2008 at 8:16 pm

Hang in there Ezra, you’ll make it though. Just stay strong and everything will be ok. I love doing the quest with Ahab on it, especially when I find Kyle, he’s so adorable Makes me wish I had a dog like that…mine ran away. Hang in there darlin’, and whisper me sometime if you want to

Deathdreamer -(normal) Turalyon

P.S, I dig your name, coincidentally that happens to be my nickname

Makeblessing says:

April 6, 2008 at 9:42 pm

After mentioning the actual quote at the bow( at Ephoenix’s specifications) many people at jaedenar(EU) were touched be the story. it traveled through ironforge from guild to guild and all of us(which are over a thousand people) KNOW that you will recovered, P.S(your xbow kicks ass! :D)

Diana Peto says:

May 10, 2008 at 7:00 am

Dear Ezra,

When I first heard about this mount, it was the buzz that it was a rare drop. But, I started looking into the story of the mount and came across your name. Thank-you for making WoW even better to play. But, also I have posted you story of the how the Phoenix came to be on our Guild website. All who have read it are truely touched by it. And to me, its your mount. I hope to see you fly one day in the Outlands because then I know who rides it. May you get better and I’m sure you will! Keep playing and keep smiling.

Rivensong - Noradrassil - A Better Place

Tj says:

May 22, 2008 at 9:17 pm

Hey, stay strong, and dont ever give up, good luck in your therapy. Nice xbow btw. Good luck, your in my prayers.

Bloodgoddess says:

May 23, 2008 at 7:43 pm

wishing you continued success in your recovery ePhoenix! If you ever pass through Kul Tiras, give us a shout and all of Lupus Sarcina will be glad to treat you to a moonberry juice (non-alcholic of course). Sending lots of positive thoughts and prayers your way!!!

Gilean says:

May 30, 2008 at 5:37 pm

Just keep on fighting buddy! I’m 14 and my grandmother has breast cancer, It’s a very sad thing whens he goes into the doctors and it makes our whole family depressed. I play WoW and I might just reroll to play with you, not because of your gear or your mount. But because you’re a really cool person and you will make it!

Just stay strong

take care.

Jacob says:

June 9, 2008 at 2:22 pm

Hey buddy!

Stay strong mate, it was great to hear about the good news!
It would be a honor to play with but i have stopped play World of warcraft so i hope you are happy.
Btw u have a very nice cross-bow and mount!

Good luck Ezra, take care!

Nick Church says:

June 11, 2008 at 6:39 pm

Hey Ezra!!
I just wanted to tell you to stay strong, hang on, and believe, and through that, you WILL be cured. I have to say that upon reading your story a few tears fell. It is amazing how strong you have been through all of this. I want you to know that I pray for you every night.

Sincerely,
Nick Church (age 16)


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