Ezra Chatterton suffers a stroke

by Daniel Whitcomb Aug 21st 2008 at 8:00PM

Some time ago, Blizzard helped Make A Wish fulfill the wish of Ezra Chatteron, young boy with brain cancer, to be a game designer for a day. He was able to design Ahab Wheathoof and his quest, as well as get his character name on an arena crossbow. It's a nice gesture, and good proof that Blizzard does have a heart.

Unfortunately, things have not been going so well for Ezra lately, as OC Register reports that he recently suffered a stroke. Micah, Ezra's father, reports that he was doing well up until the stroke, and was enjoying playing around with possible new talent builds for his character in Wrath of the Lich King. He can communicate again, but is plague by pain, vision problems, lethargy, and weakness on his right side. While his outlook is currently grave, both he and his father are hoping that a new round of treatments will work.

We here at WoW Insider would like to wish Ezra and his father all the best and a swift recovery, and like Gadgetress, we hope to one day interview him as a developer on a future Blizzard game. If you'd like to send him your own well wishes, you can do so at ephoenix at earthlink dot net.

Tags: ahab-wheathoof, blizzard, ephoenix, ezra-chatterton, make-a-wish, oc-register, pheonix, stroke, talents

Filed under: Fan stuff, News items

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)

zaababy Aug 21st 2008 8:06PM

Every time I pass Ahab Wheathoof in Bloodhoof Village and hear his sad little voice it just tugs at the heart strings. I hope things work out for the little guy.

Araydan Aug 21st 2008 8:10PM

My prayers go out to Ezra and his family. :( I hope things work out.

Cowy Aug 21st 2008 11:39PM

I made a point of going to mulgore and doing the quest on my characters even at level 70.

I also made a point of getting the honor to buy the crossbow "made to ephoenix's specifications" even though there are some ranged weapons in the game that are easier and better to obtain. I like to think he'd be happy to know people admire him, and use the things in the game that he got to help create.

Sad news, I hope he can recover. I'll be thinking of him, and will kill a few Allys in AV in his honor. :P

Boven Aug 22nd 2008 8:58AM

I almost wish that was a repeatable quest. I make it a point to do that quest first when I get a new little Tauren character to Bloodhoof Village.

RogerDodger Aug 22nd 2008 12:35PM

"Did you bring enough (terminally ill children) to share with the whole class?"

Yes. It's sad that this kid is ill. But its even more saddening (IMO) that he gets singled out while so many other children are still suffering.

I'm sure all of you who left nice and encouraging comments will also send hm a postcard, and tell his family that your pray for their son every night. If you don't do that, then do you REALLY care? Why don't you people look up a different, less famous, child that has a life-threatening illness and encourage him? Or would that be too inconvenient?

I think it's vain to believe that you are doing a good deed while other children suffer in the same way this Ezra kid does.

uri Aug 22nd 2008 1:13PM

Rogerdodger:

Geez, you come here and quote your own comment? It wasn't that clever the first time.

It's disgusting that you're excorciating people for not caring enough about terminally ill children. What have you done to make yourself the arbiter of sufficient compassion?

gummy bear Aug 22nd 2008 2:20PM

Another good gesture in wow degenerating into a steaming pile of argumentative QQ dog sh*t. Some people just love to be douche bags i guess.

Gary Mckendry Aug 21st 2008 8:07PM

Hope he gets better. And I swear if anyone posts "can i haz ur stff??" I will personally hunt you down, and decapitate you. You have been warned.

Badger Aug 21st 2008 8:09PM

I'll carry the rag for cleaning your blade, Gary.

Zuldim Aug 21st 2008 8:14PM

I'll help.

Jamie Aug 22nd 2008 4:39AM

I like the way you actually made the 'joke' anyway whilst morally shielding yourself.

Badger Aug 21st 2008 8:08PM

I cried a little when I saw this.

Thanks for posting this, Daniel.

Earth Mother keep and protect you, Ahab Wheathoof.

Aelinas Aug 21st 2008 8:12PM

My son is only slightly older than Ezra, and I thank my lucky stars that he's healthy and happy. I can't imagine how tough it is to battle a disease this horrible at such a young age.

Keep fighting the good fight, kiddo! You've got a lot of people in Azeroth /cheering for you.

Drakkenfyre Aug 21st 2008 8:14PM

I had wondered how he had been doing since his Make-A-Wish trip. I am glad to hear he had been doing ok, but saddened that this has happened to him.

Hope you get better soon, Ezra.

Zuldim Aug 21st 2008 8:16PM

I'll be praying for Ezra.

I looked him up a while back and there was literally no news on him between the Make-a-wish thing, and this...

I hope he get's better, and I hope to see Epheonix in Northrend!

Cameroo Aug 21st 2008 8:17PM

Wow I was wondering what the story behind the Ahab quest they put into the game ahwile ago was. Hope things turn around for him here. :(

Varkelen Aug 21st 2008 8:23PM

My prayers go out to you Ezra.

Whether you are healed or it is your time, I pray that you will no longer be in pain one way or the other.

Vultar Aug 21st 2008 8:26PM

Get well soon Ezra..
/hug

Metal_Gear Aug 21st 2008 8:37PM

I hope he gets better soon :(

This is the first I have heard about this, I remember the Quest well though, one of the more memorable quests for the Tauren starters, running around the village and feeding the dog, a very cheery quest. I may log onto my Tauren alt and go see him tomorrow.