'Heart of a Warrior' exemplifies Naperville girl
Twelve-year-old Allison Huff won't be able to be among the crowd of young fans sure to greet her favorite author this evening when Erin Hunter returns to Anderson's Bookshop for a book signing.
But Hunter, in the person of Victoria Holmes, one of four co-authors who pen the popular Warrior fantasy series under the Hunter name, plans to visit Allison Friday morning at Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago, where Allison is recovering from a heart transplant.
The British author said she had met Allison when she was at Anderson's for a book signing last April and was happy to be part of a fundraising effort for Allison this year when she heard about the girl's condition.
"I've been exchanging e-mails with a charming, funny and very, very smart girl - who has figured out pretty much all the secrets waiting to be revealed in the upcoming books!" Holmes wrote in an e-mail.
Holmes will autograph an entire series of Warriors books, audio materials and related items that have been donated by publisher HarperCollins. Becky Anderson, co-owner of the book shop, said the store will divide the donated materials into about six sets and raffle them to raise money for Allison's medical expenses. The raffle will continue after Holmes' visit, with tickets selling for $5 for three chances.
Anderson said she decided to do the raffle after hearing about Allison's heart condition from a friend at a time when Holmes' visit already was scheduled at the store.
"We knew we had to make the connection because this is absolutely her favorite author," Anderson said.
Allison's parents, John and Fran Huff, said their daughter has read all of the more than 20 books in the series. Not content with just reading the books, Allison also has launched two fan Web sites about the clans of warrior cats that populate the series.
The Huffs maintain a "Heart of a Warrior" blog that gives updates on Allison's condition and tells how to donate to a fund by the same name.
"We thought 'Heart of the Warrior' is perfect," John Huff said. "She's a little kid, but she's pretty feisty."
Allison has been in Children's Memorial since Feb. 2 after she suffered two fainting spells and several near fainting episodes. After her last fainting spell in late January at Crone Middle School where she is a sixth-grader, heart tests were done that revealed Allison had non-curable restrictive cardiomyopathy - a condition that requires a heart transplant.
Fran Huff said a heart became available last Wednesday and the transplant was done early Thursday morning.
"She's in the intensive care unit and she's doing beautifully," Fran said.
Allison was in relatively good health because the heart problem was discovered before other organs were compromised, Fran said. Allison is expected to remain in intensive care until the end of the week and then spend another week or less in the hospital.
But Allison will require ongoing medical treatment and monitoring.
"It's not just this year but every year, probably for the rest of her life," John Huff said.
The Huffs said although they have health insurance that picks up much of the cost, it doesn't cover all the related expenses that include travel and meals away from home.
"There are so many medical bills associated with this," John Huff said.
The Huffs said have been overwhelmed with Anderson's efforts and those of other people who have stepped forward to help, each in their own way.
"The outpouring has been great," John Huff said.
One friend is fashioning heart-shaped jewelry to sell to raise funds; another is planning to hold a volleyball clinic at the Huffs' church, Good Shepherd, in Naperville this summer.
Frank Kuzniewicz, who owns the Pancake Cafe in Naperville with his wife, Sharon, said he got involved because his daughter, Brooke, is Allison's classmate. Kuzniewicz said the cafe first put out a jar for donations and now is selling hearts his wife cut out for $1. The purchasers write their name or a message on the hearts and the restaurant hangs them on the wall.
Though he normally is reluctant to ask for donations, Kuzniewicz said he found customers readily gave when they found out the cause.
"People started asking about it and said, 'yeah, no problem,'" he said. "One guy came in and bought 30 hearts."
Another man purchased one heart for $50, he said. So far, the restaurant has collected hundreds of dollars to donate, Kuzniewicz said.
Through April 27, the Pancake Cafe will donate $2 of every purchase of its signature apple pancake to the Allison Huff Heart of a Warrior Fund. Then from 4 to 8 p.m. April 27, the restaurant will donate 25 percent of every pretax bill and tip to the fund.
"The community has been so good to us," said Kuzniewicz, who has had the restaurant 15 years and hosted many school fundraisers there. "Whenever a kid's involved, it pulls on my heart a little more."
The Huffs, who have two other daughters, said they also have been impressed with the community spirit in Naperville.
"You realize towns like Naperville aren't large towns," Huff said. "They're small communities."
<p class="factboxheadblack">"Heart of a Warrior" fundraising efforts</p> <p class="News">• Victoria Holmes, one of four writers who author the fantasy Warrior series under the name of Erin Hunter, signs the newest title "Warriors: Power of Three: Sunrise," at 7 p.m. today at Anderson's Bookshop, 123 W. Jefferson Ave., Naperville. The store is selling raffle tickets to win autographed Warrior items with proceeds going to the Allison Huff Heart of a Warrior Fund. Info: (630) 355-2665.</p> <p class="News">• Pancake Cafe, 1292 Rickert Drive, Naperville, is conducting several fundraising efforts for Allison, including selling paper hearts for $1 and donating a portion of their sales through April 27. Info: (630) 637-1010.</p> <p class="News">• For updates on Allison and more information on fundraisers and how to donate, see <a href="http://www.aheartoawarrior.com" target="new">aheartoawarrior.com</a>.</p>