Karls Books helps bring cheer, distractions to pediatric cancer clinic

For three long years, the UNC pediatric cancer center worked to fight 13-year-old Karl Humphries’ brain cancer.

Now, three-and-a-half years after his death, his mother still works to help the clinic.

After Karl’s death, Kathy Humphries asked her son’s doctor what she could do for the clinic. His sole request was for children’s books.

Since then, Humphries — now known as the “Book Fairy” to hospital employees —supplies the clinic with books for children of all ages to ease the unpleasantness of examinations and treatments.

“Karl was a big reader, as the rest of our family is. We would carry bags of books with us to visits,” Humphries said. “A lot of these kids are on really strong drugs. A lot of them are in wheel chairs. Books are a good distraction. An escape.”

With the help of local schools, churches and even scout troops, Humphries has donated thousands of books to the cancer clinic.

And she has continued that effort this holiday season with a campuswide book drive that began earlier this month. The drive will end Dec. 9 with “Winter Stories,” a storytelling event open to students and community members.

“Last year was extremely successful. I think we had at least 2,300 books,” said Katelyn Ander, head of this year’s drive at the Undergraduate Library. “We had so many more people get involved than we would have ever expected.”

Between 500 and 600 books have come in thus far — a quarter of those raised last year. However, Ander said she is hopeful that donors are waiting until the last moment.

“Lots of people are still planning to bring them in,” she said. “It seems like the word just keeps spreading. It’s really exciting to get to a drop-off site and see that, ‘Oh, there is stuff for me, not just empty boxes.’ Things seem to be picking up.”

Dr. Julie Blatt, one of the pediatric oncology physicians in the clinic, said the books provide children a much-needed distraction as they await treatment.

“She’s really doing a great thing, providing the kids with those books,” she said. “The kids love it and it keeps them occupied during clinic.”

This year, several departments and professional schools are partnering with the library by hosting drop-off sites and raising awareness. Bull’s Head Bookshop has also agreed to participate by offering a 25 percent discount to anyone purchasing books for the drive.

“It’s a good thing they’re doing,” said Stacie Smith, an assistant manager at the on-campus bookstore. “We’re making sure people get a discount for doing something nice.”

Humphries said she is excited to see the campus become so involved in her mission, especially considering her recent decision to step down from her leadership position.

“I’ve actually reached a point where I’ve had to distance myself from all this,” she said. “I’m still so sad about my son.

“I’ve decided that I don’t really want to go in and be a leader. There are people that can go in and do that. I’ve found that I enjoy being behind the scenes because it’s so emotional for me.”

Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.