| Location | San Diego (california) |
| Age | 22 years |
| Cause of Death | Virus |
| Date of Birth | 27/12/1975 |
| Date of Death | 01/02/1998 |
| Visitors | 1,247 since 01/06/2009 |
| Creator |
O'Rourke was born on December 27, 1975 in San Diego, California, the second daughter of Kathleen
O'Rourke. Before O'Rourke's death in 1988, her mother married James "Jim" A. Peele. The family,
including O'Rourke's older sister Tammy, lived in Lakeside, California at the time of her death.
Tammy O'Rourke was cast in the MGM film Pennies from Heaven, when Heather O'Rourke was discovered by
filmmaker Steven Spielberg; Spielberg found the five-year-old having lunch with her mother in the
MGM commissary. Within months, O'Rourke was cast in the 1982 horror film written and produced by
Spielberg, Poltergeist.
Death
O'Rourke became ill in early 1987, and was misdiagnosed by Kaiser Permanente Hospital as having
Crohn's disease. She was prescribed medicine to treat the Crohn's, which allegedly "puffed up [her]
cheeks."
On January 31, 1988 O'Rourke was ill again, vomiting and unable to keep anything down. The next
morning she collapsed while trying to leave for the hospital and her step-father called paramedics.
O'Rourke suffered a cardiac arrest en route to the hospital, and after resuscitation was airlifted
by helicopter to Children's Hospital and Health Center in San Diego, where she died.
Speaking to reporters, O'Rourke's manager David Wardlow initially announced that it was believed
O'Rourke died of influenza. However, hospital spokesman Vincent Bond announced that O'Rourke died
during surgery to repair a congenital acute bowel obstruction (stenosis of the intestine),
complicated by septic shock; this report was corroborated by the San Diego County coroner's office
on February 3, two days after her death. Later reports changed the specific cause of death to
cardiac arrest caused by septic shock brought on by the intestinal stenosis.
Plaque marking O'Rourke's intermentO'Rourke was interred at Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery
on February 5, 1988. Mourners included Henry Winkler, Linda Purl, and Rick Schroder.
Lawsuit
On May 25, 1988, Sanford M. Gage, the O'Rourke family attorney, filed a wrongful death lawsuit
against Kaiser Foundation Hospital in San Diego. O'Rourke had been seen by doctors at Kaiser since
birth, and the suit claimed that they failed to properly diagnose her long-standing small-bowel
obstruction: had they not simply treated her for Crohn's disease with prescription drugs, she could
have been cured by means of a simple operation;and this misdiagnosis caused O'Rourke's death. Kaiser
Permanente spokeswoman Janice Seib responded "We have reviewed the case extensively, and we believe
that the diagnosis and the course of action taken by our physicians was entirely appropriate. It's a
very complex case, complicated by a number of factors, and not given to any simple answers."
*♥* *♥* Simply Put. *♥* *♥*
Simply put ...I really miss you
I've continued to ask why
Life took this dreadful wrong turn...
Now I often sit and cry
*♥* *♥*
Simply put ...my heart is broken
Most people have no clue
Unless they live this heartache...
They don't know what I've lived through
*♥* *♥*
Simply put... I long to hug you
Share a gentle warm embrace
Often spend each day just wishing....
This truth could somehow be erased
*♥* *♥*
Simply put... I can't remember...
The last time I heard your voice
Memories are often painful...
I was not given any choice
*♥* *♥*
Simply put... I know I'm grieving
Won't get better through the years
I have learned some coping methods...
To accept this new frontier
*♥* *♥*
Simply put... I'm good at masking
Denying what I feel
For I know deep down inside me...
I will never truly heal.
*♥* *♥*
Simply put...I really miss you
No one knows the pain I bear
Simply put... there is no reason
Losing you was just not fair.
*♥* *♥*
My wings are spread, my pain is gone-Do grieve for me-but not for long.
For wondrous peace surrounds my flight-I’m gliding towards that ray of light.
So grieve for me but not for long-Remember blessings not the wrong.
My life was full and so complete-Although the end was bittersweet.
You brightened up my everyday…By things you’d do, by things you’d say.
I’ll miss my life with you on Earth, but know you gave my life it’s worth.
I’m gliding towards a perfect place-No pain or sorrow, only grace.
My wings are spread, I’m soaring strong…Do grieve for me, but not for long.
miss you xxxxxxxxxxxx
Letter From Heaven
When tomorrow starts without me,
and I'm not there to see;
If the sun should rise and find your eyes,
all filled with tears for me;
I wish so much you wouldn't cry,
the way you did today,
while thinking of the many things,
we didn't get to say.
I know how much you love me,
as much as I love you,
and each time that you think of me,
I know you'll miss me too;
But when tomorrow starts without me,
please try to understand,
that an Angel came and called my name,
and took me by the hand,
and said my place was ready,
in heaven far above,
and that I'd have to leave behind,
all those I dearly love.
But as I turned to walk away,
a tear fell from my eye,
for all life, I'd always thought,
I didn't want to die.
I had so much to live for,
so much yet to do,
it seemed almost impossible,
that I was leaving you.
I thought of all the yesterdays,
the good ones and the bad,
I thought of all the love we shared,
and all the fun we had.
If I could relive yesterday,
just even for awhile,
I'd say goodbye and kiss you
and maybe see you smile.
But then I fully realized,
that this could never be,
for emptiness and memories,
would take the place of me.
And when I thought of worldly things,
I might miss come tomorrow,
I thought of you, and when I did,
my heart was filled with sorrow.
But when I walked through heaven's gates,
I felt so much at home.
When God looked down and smiled at me,
from His great golden throne,
He said, "This is eternity,
and all I've promised you".
Today for life on earth is past,
but here it starts anew.
I promise no tomorrow,
but today will always last,
and since each day's the same day,
there's no longing for the past.
But you have been so faithful,
so trusting and so true.
Though there were times you did some things,
you knew you shouldn't do.
But you have been forgiven
and now at last you're free.
So won't you take my hand
and share my life with me?
So when tomorrow starts without me,
don't think we're far apart,
for every time you think of me,
I'm right here, in your heart.
(Unknown)
Love Mary xxxx
......... (...(`.-``'??-.?)...)..........
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..........__.`.-._...'='.._.-.?.__.......
......./.......'#.'#.,.--.,.#'.#.'....\....
.......\__))..........'#'......... ((__/.....
__xxxxxxxxxxx______xxxxxxxxxx
_xxxxxxxxxxxxxx___xxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx_xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx . . WE
_xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
__xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx . . . .LOVE
____xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
_______xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx. . . . . . . .You
_________xxxxxxxxxxxx
__________xxxxxxxxx . . . . . . . . . .
____________xxxxx
_____________xxx . . For ETERNITY xx . . . . . . .
_____________xx
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