Cruise Puts Crazy on Hold for Cancer Victim

121. Whatever you say about Tom Cruise, he was respectful to this lady and gave her the common decency of eye contact and a hug. Her daughter has a web site so it is not a plant. I think this shows alot of class for Tom and Katie. Many celebrities would have blown her off like they were too good to give her a minute of their time. I am impressed.

Posted at 10:01PM on May 5th 2008 by lisa que

122. To Just Curious:

Well, this is why some of us are wondering if it's planted somehow--either the entire story could be fake, or the child could be real, but this woman is not the mother, or something. Just so Tom can look like a hero.

I don't know for sure, but there have been stories in the press before about Tom rescuing people, and those turned out to be bogus, planted by his publicist. He supposedly rescued people from a burning/sinking boat in the Mediterranean some years ago, and that didn't happen, then he supposedly rescued a child from being crushed in a crowd, and that didn't happen either. I can't help but be suspicious about this.

Posted at 9:57PM on May 5th 2008 by Hippo

123. It's also possible that Cruise's people actively recruited this woman for PR purposes. They could have gone looking for a child with cancer and her mother, and recruited her to approach Cruise when the cameras would be rolling.

Posted at 10:05PM on May 5th 2008 by Hippo

124. I would be the last person to be disrespectful to a cancer victim or their family, since I'm right in the middle of it right now myself - my mother - but it does appear at the very least that they had met before, or someone briefed him about her and her situation before they met, and a silent, respectful press just happened to be there to film it all. All that access? All that kissing? Tom Cruise? Just when he's in the middle of a massive image rehab? It just doesn't seem very spontaneous to me. That said, I will send some money to this child. If it's a PR stunt, it won't be on my conscience.

Posted at 10:26PM on May 5th 2008 by Just Curious

125. Tom has always been a decent and caring person. I truly believe he wants to help the people he comes in contact with. I think all of the women in his life (his mom and sisters) have been the 'glue' that have helped him deal with his father and all of the problems of moving around for so many years, never having a permanant place to call home. It was a tough life. Regardless of what religion he belongs to, his movies have brought much joy to so many people including myself.

Posted at 1:39AM on May 6th 2008 by Michele

126.

Is that a scientology 'handler' that moves in to take the woman to one side
After she's finished her rehearsed plea to Tom?

I fully believe this woman's child has cancer
I also believe Tom is using this to prove
he's the only one who can save people from drugs, car crashes, and now cancer

This is one desperate egomaniac
The timing of this is utterly unbelievable
That's why i don't believe it
Nice try scientology

Posted at 12:13AM on May 6th 2008 by NO MORE TOM CRUISE

127.
And to people who are referring to scientolgy as a religion take 5 mins and review what this organisation is all about.
Do you now the history of how scientology obtained it's charitable / religious status?
Find that out and then you'll call it what it is - a cult.

What 'so called' religion do you employs private investigators to stalk, harass and intimidate former members?
What 'so called' religion do you has it's own 'prison' camp?
What 'so called' religion do you know is earning hundreds of millions of dollars from the misery of others?
What 'so called' religion do you know has abortion as part of it's policy?
What 'so called' religion do you know costs over $300,000 to find out all it's beliefs?
What 'so called' religion do you know infiltrated the IRS?
What 'so called' religion do you know was founded by a 1950's con artist, science fiction writer
What 'so called' religion do you know is called a sect, business or cult or is banned in most countries around the world?
What 'so called' religion do you know behaves like this?
Let me know.

lermanet.com

Posted at 12:24AM on May 6th 2008 by anon anon anon

128. Not a fan of Tom's, but I do know this woman is not a plant. She is a real mom, with a 2 year old fighting Neuroblastoma cancer. This cancer is the worst of the worst and effects young children. Due to it being rare, there is not a lot of funds for research. A group of parents have banded together to raise money needed for research. Kids from other countries many times travel to NY for treatment at great expense, This mom is desparate and will do whatever to help save her daughter.

Posted at 7:48AM on May 6th 2008 by Concerned

129. THE CANCER VICTIM MOTHER AND WEBSITE IS REAL, BUT IT WAS SET UP TO MAKE TOM CRUISE LOOK HUMAN AND

KIND.....THEY BROUGHT HER THERE SO THEY BOTH WOULD BENEFIT FROM THE MEDIA EXPOSURE....LOOK HOW

MANY OF YOU SAID YOU DONATED TO HER SITE.....PLUS TOM GETS THE BENEFIT OF LOOKING KIND AND

COMPASSIONATE BECAUSE HE STOPPED TO LISTEN TO HER PROBLEMS...SET UP FOR THE CAMERAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted at 12:29PM on May 6th 2008 by Msfisty

130. TMZhires13yearolds:
"Tom's a scientologist and because you know nothing about scientology other than what the gossip rags tell you, it scares you to death, so you overlook Tom's good qualities"

After years of research, I know a LOT about scientology that has never been in the gossip rags, but you're right about one thing: it scares me to death.
I wonder if TMZhires13yearolds will respond to this comment. In my experience, it's impossible to have meaningful conversations with scientologists.

Posted at 4:23PM on May 6th 2008 by brian

131. It seems like you guys are missing the point....even if this was a publicity stunt, which I really don't think it is, did it make you go and check out the site?? The story is real. The family lives in New York. They moved there from England because there is a special type of treatment for the girl's cancer that is only available in New York. I think the mother knew that Tom and Katie would be in New York for the filming of the show, and saw an opportunity. It was a great idea, and it worked cause she may receive some assistance from someone who can definately afford it, but she also made TMZ so now other people know her story and can donate as well. I replayed the clip a few times to catch the girl's name. The website is
www.graceogorman.com.....go read the story....this family has been through a lot...no regular person can afford to donate something as substantial as what Tom and Katie could afford, but I'm sure every little bit helps:-)

Posted at 8:51AM on May 7th 2008 by Lollipop

132. To Lollipop:

No one is missing the point at all. We KNOW this is a "real" mother with a "real need". We also know that Scientology and Tom Cruise's handlers would stop at nothing to get in a little good PR for their poster boy now that he's done all that damage to himself and to the church (and I use that term loosely). I donated to the little girl, and I'm glad she got the publicity and I pray she can recover, but I still think Tom's people met with her mother beforehand or he knew beforehand about her situation and "arranged" for it to be filmed.
Sorry.

Posted at 10:00AM on May 7th 2008 by Green-Eyed Angel

133. I think this is great! If he helps he will be denying Scientology, if he doesn't he's a jerk!

Scientlogy believes that if you have cancer you are a sexual pervert now or in a past life

Posted at 2:56AM on May 9th 2008 by anon1970

134. Grace was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma in Bristol Childrens Hospital, UK the same week my 15 month old son George was also diagnosed on the same ward with a less agressive form of Neuroblastoma. She is a dear little girl who along with her family are going through an incredibly hard fight including moving from the UK to New York for Grace to have life saving treatment only available at the Sloan Kettering Hospital - and at tremendous cost. Good on you Milicent, I hope this raises the profile of Grace's plight and Neuroblastoma.

Posted at 8:03AM on May 24th 2008 by J Rowlands, UK

135. Some of the comments here are about as low as I've ever seen anywhere. Sometimes things are exactly what they appear to be. Yet some are so demented they are compelled to find any explanation to turn good behavior into bad. And so it is here.

Posted at 1:01AM on May 24th 2008 by Mike