The Question That No Little Kid Should Ever Have To Ask

This morning, Chrissy and I kicked off the WGNA Country Cares St. Jude Radiothon. What a truly remarkable journey it was. From the highs of watching that tote board light up to the lows of thinking about these innocent children battling for their lives at the hands of this dreaded disease known as cancer. I can't even imagine having to tell a child that they have cancer; worse, imagine answering a question from a 6-year-old boy, 'Mom...Dad, am I going to die?'

My friend Tim lost his little boy Ben to Osteosarcoma, a rare form of childhood cancer, back in October of 2009. Ben was 9 years old. I knew Ben for about a year and a half or two before his little body couldn't fight any longer. Ben was always full of life and adventure; he was a typical little boy. He liked to play sports in the streets, fight with his action figures and play video games. And he loved to sing Karaoke, and man could he rock out!

When I was in Memphis taking a tour of the St. Jude's Children Research Hospital, I couldn't help but marvel at the wonderful advancements these incredible doctors have made in terms of curing all forms of childhood cancer.  One piece of data, in particular, stood out and I felt like I saw this everywhere: 75% success rate in curing kids with Osteosarcoma.  I texted Tim on multiple occasions to let him know that I was thinking of him and Ben because I was. A lot.

On Monday morning, during the radiothon, I relayed portions of that message on the air.  I was angry. 75% means that 25% of the children stricken with this evil disease die. 'That's not good enough', I said. 'No parent should ever have to tell their little boy or girl they have cancer'. Tim, who was listening to show this morning sent me a simple text upon hearing that. It read, 'No 6 year old should ever have to ask if he's going to die'.

I can't begin to tell you how much that nearly broke me. I have a two-and-half-year-old son.

The scientists and researchers need more time. The doctors need more research. They both need more funding. Please become a partner in hope today. Thank you and God bless.

You can also donate by phone at: 1-800-372-4999

Or, text DONATE to 785833.

Every Partner in Hope will also receive  "THIS SHIRT SAVES LIVES" t-shirt that you can wear alongside dozens of country artists to show your support for St. Jude Children's Hospital. You'll also get a ticket to the 2nd Annual Heartstrings for Hope concert at Upstate Concert Hall starring Luke Combs.