Why St Jude is Close to My Heart

Our annual Country Cares for Kids St Jude Radiothon is a special two days for us here at the radio station, and to me personally. I have been to St Jude Children's Research Hospital many times, both professionally, and personally. I always try to stop in to purchase something from the gift shop if I'm in Memphis, because it's a good reminder of how fortunate I am to help the kids that are being treated right behind those hospital walls.

Some of my St Jude memories include a little boy named Owen, who helped us cook breakfast at Ronald McDonald House in Memphis, when we were there delivering supplies with Zoie's Angels. He was a patient, and had a little chef's uniform on. He seemed so oblivious to the fact that he was desperately sick. He was just a little boy who wanted to help cook. I saw him two years later, and he was doing good. Still just a little boy, but one who was on his way to surviving cancer.

Zoie's Angels was started by the Schexnayder family, after their Zoie was treated at St Jude, and became an angel there as well. They come in year after year to tell us their story, and to help raise money in Zoie's memory. It must be very painful to relive her death, but they do it. Every year.

Some of our St Jude parents here in Acadiana have become good friends to me, and some I only get to see when the annual radiothon is on. It's bittersweet to see these brave family members come in to talk about their experiences with St Jude, because they don't all have a happy ending. The fact that parents are willing to come in and talk about the worst day of their lives says so much about how they feel about St Jude. Quite honestly, it's something I don't think I could do, and I wish they knew how much I admire them for it.

So, as you are going about your day, please think of those parents, and consider becoming a Partner in Hope. You are part of our St Jude success story every year, and we can't ever thank you enough for that. God Bless!