Hi, everyone and welcome to Funday Friday (and Happy Holidays to you all).
Today's edition is a little solemn indeed, but I'd like to take a more light-heated and heartwarming side to life stories that have moments like them.
This is Cindy Stowell. She's a 41-year-old science content developer from Austin, Texas.
One of her life-long dreams is to appear on quiz-based game show Jeopardy!. And when she finally succeed earlier this year, it seemed like the sky's the limit for this -native. She appeared on Jeopardy! last week and dominated the show at all fronts, even with come-from-behind wins. Unfortunately, her appearance carried a major life-crippling crutch. Previously, Cindy was diagnosed with Stage 4 colon Cancer, with doctors revealing that she has only only months to live.
So, Cindy knew she needed to live the end of her life the best way she could: as a contestant on Jeopardy!
During her appearances on the iconic quiz-based game show hosted by the equally-iconic Alex Trebek, she went episode after episode sweeping through the three similarly-named rounds, correctly answering questions--or in the case of this show (whose rules should be enforced or you will get frowned upon hard by fans and the host itself) questioning answers, securing Daily Doubles and finding success on Final Jeopardy! (whether getting the question right or wrong with the right amount of money scored to win the game). And boy, did she make an impression. As she fought hard to secure her championship, I (along with millions of viewers) was glued in amazement. And during her Championship reign, she racked up a LOT--earning $105,803
(Add into the brilliant, majestic, breathtaking into for Season 33 and the current version that just makes you tingle and tear up every time you hear it and we were in for a fantastic experience.
In fact, had you not known of Cindy's condition, she would've been just another ordinary (yet extraordinary) Jeopardy! contestant/Champion. Cindy didn't tell anyone outside her family about her condition (with Trebek and several producers and staffers being the exceptions), as she didn't want to make a media spectacle of the situation. She later revealed her terminal illness after her reign ended.
Even though I knew that she would become Champion, how long her reign would last and that she passed months after (just days before her episodes aired), I watched with fresh eyes seeing how AMAZING she was at her podium. Her voice was meek and cracking, but sounded beautiful and sweet, like a bluejay. Her disposition was simply adorable. And her brainpower was on overdrive. You knew she meant business. And as a one human being seeing her win six times, I almost lost my composure and felt extremely proud of her.
After her Jeopardy! reign and illness made national news, hearts across the nation (mine included) broke and then mended and warmed for her. When I heard of the story, I felt ready to cry all throughout Cindy's journey, and when she passed away. And her donations to cancer research was beautiful.
After her passing on December 5th, Jeopardy! paid tribute to Miss Stowell on its December 21st broadcast.
...and released this heartwarming video on its social media accounts.
Cindy Stowell is a true inspiration to anyone going through life's true tribulations to reach and achieve their dreams. Congratulations to her on realizing her dream and beating six other people to become six-time Jeopardy! Champion. My condolences to her family and friends.
May she rest in peace...
