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Dying Simpsons creator who is giving away his $100million fortune calls cancer an 'amazing experience' as he enters his last days


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Simpsons co-creator Sam Simon has described his terminal colon cancer as the 'most amazing experience of my life', because he is surrounded by his loved ones and donating his estimated $100 million fortune to his passion - animal rights.

Given three months to live in 2012, Simon immediately decided to team up with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) president Ingrid Newkirk, and dedicate his time to the rescue of maltreated animals and conservation.

Having defied that diagnosis’ original death sentence, Simon continues to push ahead and has also funded projects such as 'Feeding Families' to help with the underprivileged in inner cities.

And now, as he enters the twilight of his life, has declared himself never happier and finally at peace

'They showed me my scans', said Simon to NBC's Maria Shriver Project during an interview from his Los Angeles mansion.

'They said these are the scans of a dead man. I said, 'Is it curable?' And they said, 'We don't use that word.'

'I will say that the doctor said, 'I can't cure you, but my job is to keep you alive. And he has done a remarkable job of it.

'He has done great. I have never been happier, so thank you doctor.'

However, Simon did not shrink from the realities of his condition, nor fail to inject some trademark humor.

'Cancer is a horrible disease. I am struggling with it,' said Simon to NBC.

'Its everything that everybody always tells you. It's a journey, it's a fight. But, if you want publicity and you want to pick up girls, then cancer is the greatest thing in the world.'

Simon has no children and is not married so he wants to give his millions to causes he cares about. He was married to actress Jennifer Tilly in the 1980s but divorced in 1991 though they remain close.

Having already lived almost one year longer than doctors initially gave him, Simon told Maria Shriver that amazingly, his happiness was a direct result of his cancer diagnosis.

'Somehow I ended up surrounded by people who love me and take care of me and will do anything for me. That is called happiness. I think I may have had a problem letting it in before.

'Cancer has been a fight, a journey, an adventure and the most amazing experience of my life.'

Simon, 58, is spending his final months funding projects that feed homeless people and save animals from being killed in animal shelters.

'I have used my money along with Ingrid Newkirk, the founder of PETA,' said Simon to NBC.

'She came up with almost a therapy for me, where we planned and are still planning a series of animal liberations and actions that I get to participate in and enjoy.

'It gives me something to look forward.'

'I get to watch these animals that have been in concrete bunkers their whole lives take their first step on grass.'


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2829078/Dying-Simpson-creator-vowed-AWAY-100m-fortune-animals-charities-calls-cancer-amazing-experience-enters-twilight-life.html#ixzz3IngT9UT6 
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Wow. Don't know what to say. I wish to have that kind of courage should such a situation occur to me. Not a fan of PETA but kudos to him for leaving it to a charity. I hope he's not in any pain or anything when that moment comes.

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Yea..it's interesting, especially having lost relatives to Cancer, and how they had to just fight fight & then fight some more in those last days/months, this is a whole new outlook on that. I do think (and it's not to take anything away from what he or his family/friends/loved ones are going through or compare his situations to the ones I knew) having very substancial financial success has to at the very least make all this easier than for the average middle to low income person, so he really does get to see the blessings and appreciate things in a different way.

 

I'm always fascinated by terminal people who know they don't have much time left just because I HONESTLY don't know what I'd do, so it's always interesting to see what people unfortunate enough to have that ticking clock do with their time left. This story got to me tho, if for nothing else, the same way I grew up with Michael Jackson, the same way I grew up with Robin Williams, All my life I knew The Simpsons, and for most of my life I knew the names "Matt Groening & Sam Simon", so his work played a huge part in my childhood, I LIVED The Simpsons when they were on the top of their game, and I cherish those episodes still, so a lil sad with this news, but at the same time a lil inspired by how he's handling it

 

 

..........................................................................................................................................And I agree with Game with the PETA part, fuck them. The End

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I'm not a big fan of the Simpsons, PETA, Or cancer but I'm going to have to side with cancer in this story

 

:umm:

..........................................................................................................................................And I agree with Game with the PETA part, fuck them. The End

 

:hmph:

No shade to Sam but I only really knew of Matt >_<. When I saw the title my heart sank thinking it was Matt :(

LOL yea I understand that, I felt the same way when I saw the link before the name, like Matt will ALWAYS be known 1st, but since I was kinda a stan of theres from like 7-15ish, that's how I knew it and know it so well :asham: But yea Sam is like the  Matt Stone to Matt Groening being like Trey Parker (if you're a South Park stan you'll get that...are you, we've never discussed South Park :asham:)

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