Victoria Culpepper

Young East Tennessee Cancer Survivor
Inspires Others

Nine-year-old Victoria Culpepper and her parents are the first time authors of a book, called Brownie the Lonely Dragon. The book offers a simple message to children of all ages. "It's about accepting people and respecting people no matter what they are or what they look like," says Peter Culpepper.

Peter wrote the story as a child and recently published the book with the inspiration of Victoria's own personal story. "Her whole experience inspired us to just want to help figure a way to reach out to others," Peter says.

Victoria was diagnosed with cancer at the age of five. "It is so overwhelming once you are actually confronted with something because you never expect a medical crisis, nobody should have to expect that, no child should get sick." says Peter.

Four years after a near death illness, Victoria is full of life. "I like to ride my bike, draw and play with my brother and sister," says Victoria.

Victoria's dad say it's her strength that helped her pull through. "I would look at here and say you're going to make it and I could tell by the way she was looking back she was going to make it."

And it's that strength and determination that keep Victoria on her mission. "I'd like to help other people get out of their pain, too," Victoria says.

The family hopes Brownie the Lonely Dragon will help tell their story that even the most traumatic experience can have a happy ending.

Visit their Big Boxhead Website for more information

Background

December 7, 2002

It all started when Pete Culpepper wrote a children's book for a school project when he was 13 years old. The story languished for 17 years, until he married his wife Gina and she found it in some old boxes of stuff. She was captivated with the concept, and tried to urge him to do something with it since she saw its potential. Ever since our first daughter Victoria was just an infant we loved reading children's books to her. We knew we had a desire to contribute somehow to the positive development of children in this way.

However, Peter was too busy in the corporate world, and not until Victoria was struck by cancer in 1999 did they realize that time was slipping by too fast. The family had just returned to the U.S. (Connecticut) from living in Europe. The Northeast has a tremendous resource of hospitals and physicians for children, and Victoria has survived her life-threatening cancer thus far. If you'd like, please note more detail about this on Victoria's web site; and please note the Help Kids Who Have Cancer site as well. Two clips of Victoria with Oprah and Bill Cosby are on her site.

Victoria became the inspiration to realize the family dream of publishing this first book. Gina and Pete expanded the story to its current form. Victoria helped Gina with the illustrations, and then she and our younger daughter Audrey provided other key input! George, our 5-month old, is too new to contribute to this one!

When Victoria was gravely ill, the Make-A-Wish Foundation^® in Connecticut gave her a special wish that made a tremendous difference in her life, and that of her entire family at the time. This made us think seriously about publishing this story to give back some of the profits to the Make-A-Wish Foundation^®, helping other kids like Victoria, and supporting other not-for-profits like the United Way of Greater Knoxville, where Pete has served as Loaned Executive during the 2002 Campaign to raise funds for the community.

Unfortunately, we were not able to find a publisher for the book while in Connecticut. Pete was moved to Tennessee in late 2000, so our dream was again on hold. Now, we are very re-energized to see this through, especially since Pete has more time to promote it since he is no longer working in a traditional job. It has always been Pete's dream to work at home so he can spend time with his family and help Gina raise and nurture their kids. And also, Pete will have more time to serve the community and the church. Eddie Siebert, a Connecticut author of children's books, is helping to guide us along the way to make our dream a reality!

Our primary desire is to give to the world and foster hope for the children, so they can reach their God-given potential. And of course, we believe the message of this first book (and others too) can make a difference in the lives of all the children in the world.

And this is why Felix Culpepper International, Inc. was formed in the State of Tennessee in 2002. Our web site was formed to promote the book and others to come in the future.

Thank you!

Sincerely,
Pete and Gina Felix Culpepper

Culpepper Ancestry. Victoria's father, Pete Culpepper, is the son of Linwood Martin Culpepper, Jr.