January 8, 2009

By Rick Winterson

Kori Lynn McElaney is seven years old.  She is currently undergoing treatments at the Jimmy Fund Clinic.  Her “time” takes place on Friday evening, January 23, at Florian Hall.  It’s an event she’s really looking forward to.  So are we.

Kori Lynn McElaney is a charming young lady.  It was a pleasure talking with this beautiful seven-year-old during the interview.  She combines politeness with a bubbly personality that pops out often, even when she’s trying to be serious.  Kori’s conversational abilities come from being a good student at the Condon School, where she is a first-grader who has received student awards for her class work.

One of Kori’s favorite TV shows is iCarly, the well-known program about a teenaged girl who – with her friends Sam and Freddie – puts together her own web cast from a studio in her attic.

We spent a lot of the interview discussing a book Kori really likes – “ … Super-Completely and Totally the MESSIEST!”.  This is a book about a little girl named Sophie, and she is unable to stop herself from making messes.  Sophie has food on her dolls and dolls in her food.  The illustrations that show Sophie serving her mother breakfast in bed are supremely funny.  Sophie trails messiness behind her, and can never wear anything white – it won’t stay white for long.

The story in the book is told by Sophie’s older sister Olivia.  Olivia’s a real neatnik, who keeps everything in its place.  Olivia admits that Sophie is “kind and nice and funny, and great at puzzles and dancing”, but she drives Olivia wild.  Kori thinks that she herself is more like Olivia than Sophie.

Kori is a friendly, outgoing girl.  One of her favorite things to do is playing with her circle of friends on Costello Circle.  Her best friends include Billy DeWolfe, Brianna, and Zeanna.  She likes to visit her cousin Dylan and play with his hamster.  While she’s there, Kori hides from Dylan’s little brother Jacob – she fools him by stuffing pillows under the bedspread so he’ll think she’s hiding underneath.

For Christmas, Kori got a kitten named Mary, a black kitten with white paws and a white stripe underneath.  Mary is three months old; she bites and scratches a bit, but very gently.  She also meows a lot.  When cousin Dylan visits, he chases Mary all over the place.

Kori’s seventh birthday was October 19.  At that time, she had begun radiation and chemotherapy treatments at the Jimmy Fund Clinic.  Right now, she’s in the second phase of her treatment, which involves an all-day chemo treatment at the Clinic every Monday for a year.  Despite her schedule of treatments, Kori is still doing very well in school and even keeps up with her nightly homework.  Her optimism and cheerfulness are excellent medicines, and marvelous to behold as the New Year approaches.

Kori was born in South Boston, the daughter of Shawn McElhany and Kerry Haufler.  She has an older sister Karissa.  One of Kori’s ambitions is to become a photographer when she grows up.  Her love for animals might lead her to be a veterinarian, but she’ll decide that later on.

In the meantime, as you have probably guessed, a “Southie time” has been arranged for Kori.  The date: Friday evening, January 23; the place: Florian Hall on Hallett Street.  There’s no need to describe a “Southie time” to you.  As we all know, it will be a party that Kori will never forget.

More details to follow.  Look for the posters with Kori’s picture on them around town, and reserve the evening of the 23rd.  See you there.