MsC1210 Posted August 24, 2006 Share Posted August 24, 2006 Hi all I saw this and thought it was neat. Unfortunately I was not sure where to post it and I hope this forum is acceptable to share it in. Chris Famed Chicago 'cancer' fish, Bubba the Grouper, goes belly up at 24 Thu Aug 24, 11:29 AM CHICAGO (AP) - Bubba the Grouper, the first fish in history known to have received chemotherapy and bounce back from cancer, has died, the Shedd Aquarium said Wednesday. Shedd officials estimate Bubba, who became an instant celebrity and an inspiration to cancer patients when news of the chemotherapy was first announced, was an estimated 24 years old when he died Tuesday. The 69.3-kilogram "super grouper" was abandoned at the Chicago aquarium in 1987, left at the reception desk in a bucket. Shedd officials nursed the fish - then a she - to health and put her in a tank. Bubba changed gender in the mid-1990s, which is not uncommon for certain kinds of fish. Bubba was diagnosed with cancer in 2001, and two years later, Shedd officials took the unprecedented step of administering chemotherapy. Cancer survivors, particularly children, were inspired by Bubba's story of resilience, and he was a Shedd favourite, officials said. "Bubba overcame some incredible odds over the years, and that's what made him so special to us," said George Parsons, director of the Shedd's Fish department. "Every once in a while for the last three years we have been getting phone calls from kids with cancer or from their parents, wondering how he is doing," Parsons said. "It's going to be tough now, if I have to tell them he's no longer with us." A preliminary animal autopsy showed Bubba had some age-related health issues and several abnormal growths. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missyk Posted August 25, 2006 Share Posted August 25, 2006 That is a REALLY neat story!! I'd never heard of Bubba before...shame he's moved on to fishie Heaven. Thanks for posting this!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RandyW Posted August 25, 2006 Share Posted August 25, 2006 Burial At Sea or Lake perhaps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharonjo Posted August 25, 2006 Share Posted August 25, 2006 Great story Chris! Thanks for sharing. Sharon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teresag Posted August 25, 2006 Share Posted August 25, 2006 69.3-kilograms! That was one BIG fish! Sheesh, that's EXACTLY what I weigh! (Oops! Another great cosmic secret revealed.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gail p-m Posted August 25, 2006 Share Posted August 25, 2006 Cute story! A Hero Fish! gail p-m Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angelofcharlie20 Posted August 25, 2006 Share Posted August 25, 2006 Too cute and very inspirational. I'm sure a lot of people were inspired by this great fish. Thanks Chris. Shirley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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