Tim Cook Replies to Apple Fan Regarding the iPad That Helped a Grandfather Cope During Cancer Recovery

The iPad, although viewed by many as simply a blown-up version of the iPhone, is actually a powerful computing tool in its own right. After all, it can do pretty much everything a laptop can, but so much more intuitively — from guiding you in the direction you need to go, to rendering full, desktop quality web-content, and even offering a healthy dose of entertainment, communication medians, and comfort as we seek to pass the time away.

And, well, at least in the case of the latter, it appears that Apple’s 9.7-inch tablet computer has provided, well, communication, entertainment, and a beaming ray of hope — in a rather unlikely, though not too ‘off-the-charts’ capacity.

Even more, the customer’s surrogates were so enthused by the impact Apple’s iPad had on its beneficiary, they decided to reach out to Time Cook, Apple’s Chief Executive, simply to express just how much gratitude, and to what extent of a positive effect the device has had. And, wouldn’t you know, they actually got a reply from the Silicon Valley tech-executive, too.

Posted to Reddit on Monday by user “bhanel”, it appears from the captioned photo that Cook replied to an email from a customer who indicated that Apple’s iPad helped the customer’s grandfather — who was recovering from a rather invasive, cancer-related surgery on his bladder — to cope with the debilitating nature of being bed-ridden during the time of his recovery.

“[Cook’s] reply was brief, but I’m impressed that he took the time to read my letter and respond at all,” the Reddit post reads. “I think it’s great that he takes time to read and respond to emails regular folks send him. I just thought I would share my story with you guys.”

When Christmas rolled around last year, at the time of the customer’s grandfather’s recovery, the man was gifted an iPad Air by his grandchild. Apparently, the man didn’t even know how to use a computer, but, regardless, learning the ins and outs of navigating Apple’s iPad was relatively easy for him. And within weeks, he was using the device like a professional; he was even able to learn how to FaceTime with his doctor.

As you can see from the image, itself, Cook’s reply was, indeed, rather short and, for all intents and purposes, not very “heartfelt.” However, I think it’s reasonable to assume that, as the top executive of perhaps the most influential tech-company in the world, a reply at all — no matter how short or void of emotion it may have been — is still a reply, right? Just the fact that Tim took the time from his busy schedule to reply, I think, speaks volumes about his character.

And, of course, a reply at all reminds us that — no matter how important or significant our position in life may be — we’re all human at the end of the day. We all go through the same experiences, for the most part, and we’re all in this crazy thing called life together.

Also, I guess it’s only reasonable to assume this will be a family of Apple customers for many years to come, as they also ended up purchasing an iPhone 6 for their grandfather — you know, since “the continuity” of the iOS user experience, once you learn it, is about as consistent as your morning bowl of oatmeal.

Did you think Cook’s response was sufficient? What would you have replied instead?
Let us know in the comments.