Great Stories Bring Great People

It seems fitting I would run into my, what I like to call, ‘news crush,’ when I was covering a story about an inspiring young girl fighting for her life to play one game of basketball.

Her name is Lauren Hill. She was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer a little more than a year ago. I got to meet Lauren and her family this summer when I was covering a local 5K, which benefitted her favorite organization, The Cure Starts Now. I remember admiring her calm strength as she talked about her cancer. There was something very special about this girl, but even with that thought in my head I wasn’t able to foresee what was to come in the months ahead.

Today, Lauren played in front of thousands in her first collegiate basketball game. Doctors predict this game will also be her last. You could say this game has been her dying wish, and it’s hundreds of people coming together that made it come true.

The game was originally scheduled for November 15th, but because of Lauren’s declining health, the NCAA and her university’s opponent agreed to play early. This game got so much support it had to be moved to a bigger facility. It was also broadcasted on Fox Sports Ohio channel and local TV stations streamed the game for those who weren’t part of the 10,000 people who snatched a ticket within the first hour of them going on sale.

Many media outlets have written about Lauren’s story. One of which was put together by yes, my news crush, CBS Correspondent Steve Hartman.

Steve Hartman exclusively reports on human-interest stories. I’d say he’s best known for his “Everybody has a Story” segments. He would fly to a random place, find a pay phone with a phone book, and with his eyes shut, he’d point to a name in which he would then call them to do a story. The idea, we ALL have a story, and one that’s worth telling. He captures raw emotion. It’s hard not to feel something while watching one of his pieces.

Needless to say, though I was pumped to watch his story with Lauren previewing the game, I was disappointed I had just missed him. How could Steve come to Cincinnati without me knowing about it?

But then, there he was. Outside Lauren’s college, amongst the various media outlets ready to capture her and her teammates load into their bus to head to the game, a tall, gray haired man stood. Steve Hartman. My feet immediately moved me in his direction. I introduced myself and commended him for his work. We chatted for a few moments, until I heard my producer in my IFB, (the earpiece broadcasters wear) giving me my next hit time for the live shot, it was time to go back to work.

When I watched the bus go by en route to the big game, I couldn’t help but become emotional. Inside that bus, a young girl with her time clock ticking. She didn’t want to travel to a different county or take a trip to Disneyland, all she wanted was four quarters of her favorite sport.

I am not surprised that one of my favorite stories in Cincinnati has drawn me to one of my favorite storytellers. Steve Hartman shows the human heart, something I can only wish to do one day as well as him.

#laurenhill #stevehartman #thecurestartsnow