99-year-old’s birthday wish comes true on ‘General Hospital’




SCREEN GEM—“General Hospital” actor Parry Shen, right, has his picture taken with 99-year-old Felicia Tabbi (seated) at a watch party celebrating Tabbi’s role as an extra on the daytime drama. RICHARD GILLARD/Acorn Newspapers

SCREEN GEM—“General Hospital” actor Parry Shen, right, has his picture taken with 99-year-old Felicia Tabbi (seated) at a watch party celebrating Tabbi’s role as an extra on the daytime drama. RICHARD GILLARD/Acorn Newspapers

For 58 years, countless fans have tuned into the daytime soap opera “General Hospital” and its cast of characters living in the fictional town of Port Charles. But few could consider themselves as big of a fan as 99-year-old Felicia Tabbi.

How big a fan?

Tabbi—who celebrated her birthday by making a background appearance in a recent episode thanks to the help of her Westlake Village neighbors—wanted to leave the set because she didn’t want to miss that day’s episode.

“I love ‘General Hospital’ very much,” Tabbi said. “I’m so happy that my neighbors could help me.”

Since the first episode aired April 1, 1963, she has rarely missed any of the more than 14,000 episodes.

“I like the characters, and I like the story behind it,” said Tabbi, who especially likes Laura Wright’s Emmy-winning portrayal of Carly Corinthos.

Knowing how much her mother loves the series, Cheryl Tabbi had been trying for years to find a way to get her mom on the show.

READY FOR HER CLOSE-UP—Cheryl Tabbi, right, cheers during a party to watch her 99-year-old mother, Felicia Tabbi (seated), appear as an extra on the daytime soap, “General Hospital,” Sept. 27. RICHARD GILLARD/Acorn Newspapers

READY FOR HER CLOSE-UP—Cheryl Tabbi, right, cheers during a party to watch her 99-year-old mother, Felicia Tabbi (seated), appear as an extra on the daytime soap, “General Hospital,” Sept. 27. RICHARD GILLARD/Acorn Newspapers

“The TV has become her whole life because with the coronavirus she hasn’t gone out at all,” Cheryl said. “She relates to these people. She thinks of them as her friends.”

This year, Cheryl decided to post a request on Nextdoor, a social networking platform that allows neighbors to connect.

She created a post asking if anyone could help her mom, who uses a wheelchair, get a “roll-on” part for her 99th birthday.

The July 23 post went viral.

“General Hospital” employees offered to send gift baskets. Actors on the show offered to talk to Felicia on the phone, and Caroline Hennesy, who plays Diane Miller on the series, sent Felicia a video birthday message.

The post garnered more than 150 comments from people trying to get Felicia on the show or sending her happy birthday wishes. Cheryl was grateful but assumed nothing more would happen.

Then one day Cheryl got a call from ABC, the network that airs the show. Frank Valentini, the show’s executive producer, was calling to arrange for her mother to be on an upcoming episode.

“I was shocked. I can’t put my finger on who made it happen, but there were so many neighbors helping,” Cheryl said. “It’s a combination of all these great neighbors that made it happen.”

Without knowing how Valentini learned about her request, Cheryl posted an update on Nextdoor announcing that, because of residents’ help, her mother would soon be on “General Hospital.” Once again, the response was overwhelmingly positive.

“This was officially the cutest thing I’ve ever seen because you have this sweet little 99-yearold woman who got to do this amazing experience,” said Westlake Village resident Shannon Atkins, who had tried to connect Felicia with an actor she knew from the show.

Atkins said heartwarming stories like this one are needed now more than ever. She hopes more people are inspired to use social media for good.

“The typical climate of Nextdoor is so divisive and aggressive even though you’re actually interacting with your neighbors,” Atkins said. “There’s no way you could be divided over this.”

Cheryl said the kindness of strangers like Atkins has restored her faith in humanity.

“It’s the first time in years that I’ve felt such support from my neighbors,” she said. “We’re always in this grind to get through each day, and so it was really nice that all these neighbors took the time out of their day to help me. It means so much to me.”

It meant just as much to Felicia.

After arriving at Prospect Studios in Los Angeles on Aug.16, Felicia was able to meet “General Hospital” actors Cassandra James, Rebecca Herbst, Josh Swickard and Michael Easton.

They cheered and clapped for her and asked to take pictures with her.

“I was happy to talk with them,” Felicia said. “They were nice.”

When it came time to film her background role, Felicia’s caregiver, Aida Serrano, dressed in blue General Hospital scrubs, pushed Felicia in her wheelchair across the set as Cheryl walked by her side.

Cheryl said she will always cherish the special experience she shared with her mother.

“It’s a memory that I’ll never forget,” the 64-year-old said. “It truly was a dream. Most people don’t get something like this in their lifetime.”

To celebrate the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Atkins helped Cheryl plan a party Sept. 27 to watch the episode Felicia appeared in.

Felicia, her daughter and a group of supporters gathered at Twisted Oak Tavern in Agoura Hills to tune in to Channel 7.

“I just want her to feel special, so that’s why I was trying to make sure we got a decent crowd,” Atkins said. “She’s 99. You have to celebrate every moment while you can.”

Cheryl and Felicia are forever grateful for the help of people they had never met.

“I want to thank them from the bottom of my heart for all that they did to make her 99th birthday the best one ever,” Cheryl said.