>> i'm dating big bird. >> reporter: carol spiny is much more like the lovable, slightly goofy, fineke the 5-year-old boy sick with cancer whose parents asked big bird to give their boy a call. >> so i called. they put a cell phone to his head. i said hello, joey, this is me, big bird. i have heard you have had a hard time. i just want to say hello. he hung up, said big bird called me. he's my friend and he smiled and passed. >> reporter: so, this little boy who hadn't smiled in months -- >> he died with a smile on his face. >> reporter: 46 years in, spiny would like to make it an even 50. who better to make kids feel safe, loved and grounded than a bird who never flies? jim axelrod, cbs news woodsock connecticut. >>> coming up after your local news on "cbs this morning," the latest from the deadly amtrak investigation will take you to philadelphia for an update. plus, paul shafer joins us in the studio as letterman gets ready to sign off. former nba star allen iverson stops by to tell us about his new documentary. that's the "cbs morning news" for this friday. thanks for watching, i