A Hippopotamus for Christmas
A true story about a hippo
on Netlog, YouTube and Facebook
Bruno Lowagie @ ZooCamp 2009

February 2008
I'm lost for words...
Ik kan er niet over schrijven.
Yet words are all I have.
Ik kan er niet niet over schrijven.
What else can I do to help him?
Ik weet het niet, ik weet het echt niet...

Bad, bad news…
Your son has Cancer…

The protocol

A Helping Hippo

The operation

Brul gets surgery

A Hippo Song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NCDtlSNm0k

Hippo Song 2

Hello,
Paincakes fanmail I wanted to send you a little mail to thank you for recording \"I
want a hippopotamus for Christmas.\" My son (almost 12) has
Cancer (Osteosarcoma) and he has a little stuffed hippo that
has become very important during the long treatment.
We play your version of \"I want a hippopotamus for Christmas\"
every time we celebrate something. For instance: we've just
had the news that he can go home from the hospital for the
weekend. On such an occasion I play the song on my
portable computer and my son lets his stuffed hippo dance
to it. He can't use his left leg due to the Cancer, so he lets his
hippo do all the things he can't do anymore.
This is just a little mail from a father, a son and his hippo to tell
you that we are fans!
Thanks again,
Bruno, Inigo and Brul

Bruno,
Thank you so much for your message. Your email and blog entry
Paincakes answer were very touching. It is very nice to know that something
we did for fun has now taken on so much meaning in your
lives.
One of the first thoughts that entered my mind after reading the
blog entry was that there may be a way to get Inigo a
hippopotamus for Christmas. I know many zoo's in the
United States have adoption or sponsorship programs to help
fund the care of animals. For a donation that goes towards
feeding and taking care of an animal, the zoo will send a
picture and information about the animals they are adopting
or sponsoring. I would imagine that it may be a possibility at
a zoo near you as well. If possible, myself and my friends in
the \"band\" would like to find a way to make this happen.
Please let me know what you think of the idea. Again, thank you
for your email. My best wishes to you and your family. I hope
Inigo has a quick recovery.
Sincerely,
Erik J. Koppin

Netlog: Clan Brul

Hippe Hermien

Hippopotamusses

Brul is popular

Brul on YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUPKUGT9yiA

Brul’s Newspaper

Key chains

Cool T-Shirts
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLe3AxKKpxU

Free Flyers

Brul in De Tijd
Oktober 2008

Brul on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=48050780329

Brul & his T-shirts

T-Shirt mania

Christmas present

Closing event:
dog walk

Extra money

Visiting Hermien
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQ7H6-C22OQ

Inigo is happy

Thank you!
Questions are welcome