SUPERSTAR BILLY GRAHAM HAS TWO YEARS LEFT TO LIVE. This was the news that confronted crestfallen wrestling fans the world over last month. For longtime fans, this is sad, but not unexpected, news. The Superstar has battled numerous health issues since the tail end of his career in the 1980s, when WWF cameras documented his (Vince McMahon bankrolled) hip replacement operation. Today, The Superstar struggles with heart problems, diabetes, Hepatitis C and abject, gut wrenching depression, to name but a few of his problems, but somehow, he always seems to survive. In 2002, Grahams life was saved by a liver transplant he received from 26-year-old Donor Card carrier Katie Gillroy, who had tragically died in a car accident. Now, the lifesaving organ that has kept one of wrestlings true greats alive for around 12 years, is finally failing. The odds of him receiving another are, it must be said, pretty damning. At any given time, there are around 20,000 Americans awaiting liver transplants and, due to a lack of donors, only about 3,000 of them are actually able to receive the vital organ. HYPERLINK "http://whatculture.com/wwe/superstar-billy-graham-told-he-has-two-years-to-left-to-live.php" As What Culture writer Douglas Scarpa reported in August, with organ donors in such short supply, it seems highly unlikely that doctors will be willing to use one of these precious organs on a man of Grahams age and condition. Beyond keeping the man in our thoughts and (if you are so inclined) prayers, there is little that we fans can do to help him except to show our support and gratitude for his work and contributions to the industry we love. It is no secret that Superstar Billy Graham is one of my favourite performers of all time. Writing this piece is one way of celebrating his life and career. Carrying a donor card at all times is another. If youre a younger fan and havent yet encountered The Reflection of Perfection, then it is my firm hope that this article will encourage you to look him up and, in so doing, begin to enjoy the greatest character, as well as the most charismatic performer, to ever set foot inside a wrestling ring... Heres 10 facts to get you started...
I am a professional author and lifelong comic books/pro wrestling fan. I also work as a journalist as well as writing comic books (I also draw), screenplays, stage plays, songs and prose fiction.
I don't generally read or reply to comments here on What Culture (too many trolls!), but if you follow my Twitter (@heyquicksilver), I'll talk to you all day long!
If you are interested in reading more of my stuff, you can find it on http://quicksilverstories.weebly.com/ (my personal site, which has other wrestling/comics/pop culture stuff on it).
I also write for FLiCK http://www.flickonline.co.uk/flicktion, which is the best place to read my fiction work.
Oh yeah - I'm about to become a Dad for the first time, so if my stuff seems more sentimental than usual - blame it on that!
Finally, I sincerely appreciate every single read I get. So if you're reading this, thank you, you've made me feel like Shakespeare for a day! (see what I mean?)
Latcho Drom,
- CQ
