Another Story of Michael’s Kindness

A meeting between a sick boy from Tulsa and a pop-music legend

Fourteen-year-old David Smithy from Tulsa, a city in the U.S. state of Oklahoma, met Michael in 1984. He was suffering from bladder swelling and was facing death. The Bear Ring charity association—whose work was to fulfill the wishes of children whose chances of recovery seemed hopeless—arranged a meeting with Michael. Karen Wilson, David’s mother, was on a business trip when she heard the news of Michael Jackson’s death.

“This news brought back wonderful memories of my son and of how special Michael was with him. His absence is terrible, and his passing has weighed heavily on my heart.”

It was an afternoon in April 1984 when her 14-year-old son David met Michael at his home in Encino, California. They watched a movie in Michael’s home theater, played a video game, and David learned how to moonwalk.

After the meeting, David told a local newspaper in Tulsa:

“We played two video games, and I beat him both times.”

In the end, Michael gave David a red jacket he wore in the video “Beat It,” as well as a beaded glove he had received at the American Music Awards—one with which he had won eight awards.

David’s mother remembers that on the way back home, her son wore that jacket and glove, and

“It was like he was in heaven.”

After returning to Tulsa, David went straight to the hospital. His mother says that in the hospital he showed the people who came to visit him Michael’s gifts and their photo together. David died a month later.

“Michael Jackson gave us the happiest month of our lives. David died in great happiness.”

Of course, the meeting also affected Michael. He dedicated the album by the Jackson 5, Victory, to David.

After her son’s death, Wilson continued to follow Michael’s professional and personal life. When Michael faced accusations of child sexual abuse, she was a staunch defender.

“I never, ever believed any of those accusations. He was alone with my son many times, and nothing bad ever happened. I truly never believed any accusation against him.”

Wilson has kept her son’s photo with Michael, as well as Michael’s jacket and glove. They are sealed, though, according to her, “they’ve gotten so old that you can’t take them out and handle them too much.”

Wilson says that now, whenever a Michael song comes on, she feels a heaviness in her heart.

Source: eMJey / tulsaworld.com