Announcer: NEXT ON LIFE TODAY,

FOR FIVE YEARS JOY AND TAIT CRUSE WALKED CLOSELY WITH GOD

WHILE THEIR FOUR-YEAR-OLD SON, CONNOR BATTLED STAGE FOUR CANCER.

WHY DID YOU HEAL HIM OF THE FIRST CANCER FOR HIM

TO GET A SECOND ONE? IT JUST SEEMS CRUEL.

I SHUT THE DOOR AND I SAID, "GOD, I CAN'T DO THIS AGAIN.

I CAN'T WATCH MY SON GO THROUGH THIS AGAIN."

Announcer: HOPE TRANSFORMED -- NEXT!

§

Randy: WELCOME TO LIFE TODAY.

I'M RANDY ROBISON.

THIS IS MY WIFE, DEBBIE.

MY PARENTS ARE TAKING

A LITTLE BREAK.

BUT WE HAVE SOME WONDERFUL

GUESTS WITH A STORY

I KNOW IS GOING TO BLESS YOU,

CHALLENGE YOU, I DARE SAY.

WOULD YOU WELCOME TO LIFE TODAY

JOY AND TAIT CRUSE?

THANKS FOR BEING WITH US.

THE CRUSES HAVE PUT

THEIR STORY INTO THIS BOOK

CALLED HOPE TRANSFORMED.

THE PHOTO ON THE FRONT

IS CONNOR, THEIR SON.

THANKS FOR COMING ON THE SHOW

AND TELLING YOUR STORY.

IT IS NOT AN EASY ONE TO TELL.

BUT TAKE US BACK TO THAT DAY

IN 2005 WHEN CONNOR WAS

HAVING WHAT, A STOMACH ACHE?

AND THE DOCTOR SAID,

"LET'S SEE HOW HE DOES."

AND HE WASN'T DOING WELL

SO YOU WENT TO

THE EMERGENCY ROOM.

Tait: YEAH, THE DAY BEFORE

HE HAD A TUMMY ACHE,

HE WAS LETHARGIC,

AND JUST WANTING TO NAP.

HE WOULD GO OUT AND RUN

IN THE BACKYARD AND COME IN

AND LAY DOWN AGAIN.

SO JOY AND I DECIDED AFTER

ABOUT A WEEK OR TWO WEEKS

OF THIS THAT IT WAS PROBABLY

APPENDICITIS, WHICH JOY HAD

HAD AS A CHILD.

SO WE DECIDED ON SUNDAY,

MAY 15th, 2005 THAT CONNOR,

WE'LL TAKE HIM TO

THE HOSPITAL IF IT HAPPENS.

SO THAT MORNING, HE WOKE UP,

HE HAD THE PAIN, A MILD FEVER.

JOY TAKES HIM IN.

IT'S PROBABLY APPENDICITIS,

WE'LL MISS OUR CABO TRIP

AND CHALK IT UP

AS THREE OR FOUR DAYS.

AND DARN IT, WE'RE GOING

TO MISS OUR TRIP BUT

IT WILL BE APPENDICITIS.

SO SHE GOES DOWN THERE AND

SHE'S GONE MOST OF THE DAY.

YOU WANT TO KIND OF TELL THEM

ABOUT THE BEGINNING

OF THAT D DAY.

Joy: YEAH, OUR FIRST --

D DAY WAS DIAGNOSIS DAY.

THEY JUST RAN A LOT OF TESTS

AND ENDED UP DOING --

THEY THOUGHT MAYBE

IT WAS PNEUMONIA.

THEY HAD DONE A CHEST X-RAY

AND THEY SAW A SPOT ON

A LYMPH NODE SO THEN

THEY RAN A CAT SCAN.

THEY CAME IN AND THEY HAD

THIS GRAVE LOOK ON THEIR FACE.

AND LIKE TAIT SAYS,

THEY WROTE ON A NAPKIN,

"NEUROBLASTOMA" --

JUST A LITTLE DINNER NAPKIN.

THEY SAID, "DO YOU KNOW

WHAT THIS IS?"

"NO."

"IT'S CANCER.

AND WE'RE 99% SURE YOUR SON

HAS NEUROBLASTOMA CANCER."

IT'S THE SECOND MOST

COMMON TUMOR CANCER BEHIND

BRAIN TUMORS BUT THEY GIVE KIDS

MAYBE A 30% CHANCE OF SURVIVAL.

USUALLY IT'S A STAGE FOUR

BY THE TIME THEY'RE DIAGNOSED,

MEANING IT'S IN

THE BONE MARROW, BONES,

AND SEVERAL TUMORS,

WHICH WAS CONNOR'S SITUATION.

SO THEY DIDN'T GIVE US

A VERY GOOD PICTURE

AT THAT TIME OF SURVIVAL.

BUT WE FOUND OUT LATER

THEY THOUGHT IT WAS

A LOT WORSE THAN

THEY LET ON WITH US.

Tait: LIKE A THREE MONTH

SURVIVAL.

Randy: SO HE'S FOUR YEARS OLD

AT THIS POINT?

Joy: YES.

Randy: SO WHAT DO YOU DO

WHEN YOU FIND OUT,

THEY SAY, "HEY, IT'S BAD."

Tait: FROM THERE, I'VE NEVER

EXPERIENCED WHERE THE ROOM

IS GOING VERTICALLY

AND HORIZONTALLY SPINNING

AT THE SAME TIME.

Joy: HE ACTUALLY FELL

AND A FRIEND HAD TO CATCH HIM.

Tait: I'D NEVER FELT THAT.

Joy: AFTER THE SHOCK WORE OFF,

YOU KIND OF PICK BACK UP

FOR YOUR KIDS

AND YOU FOCUS ON THEM

AND THEIR SURVIVAL AND BEATING

THE ODDS AND DOING EVERYTHING

YOU CAN TO HELP THEM

SURVIVE AND TO BEAT THIS

AND FIGHT IT, AND YET

YOU HAVE THREE OTHER CHILDREN

AT HOME THAT YOU HAVE

TO TRY TO KEEP THINGS NORMAL

FOR THEM.

SO HONESTLY, AT THIS TIME,

WE CLUNG TO GOD.

TAIT SAYS IT WAS OUR FAITH,

FAMILY, AND FRIENDS THAT

WE CLUNG TO AND WE HAD

A GREAT SUPPORT GROUP

THROUGH IT.

Randy: ON A PRACTICAL LEVEL,

WHAT HAPPENED

OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS?

Tait: WE HAD JUST MOVED

INTO OUR DREAM HOUSE

AND I HAD JUST MOVED

INTO A GREAT CAREER.

EVERYTHING WAS GOING GREAT

SO WE WERE LIKE

HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?

SO AFTER THE INITIAL SHOCK,

WE WENT TO -- WE ACTUALLY

WENT TO THE SONOGRAM THE DAY

AFTER CONNOR WAS DIAGNOSED

FOR MASON, OUR FOURTH.

SO WHERE IT'S USUALLY

A JOYOUS TIME WE'RE IN THERE

BAWLING OUR EYES OUT.

SO ONCE THE DIAGNOSIS HAPPENED

AND AFTER SIX HOURS

OF DOCTORS HUDDLING AROUND

THE X-RAYS TRYING TO FIGURE

OUT SURGERY AND THIS AND THAT,

JOY'S FIRST NIGHT

IN THE HOSPITAL,

THE FIRST OF 200 NIGHTS

IN THE HOSPITAL, CONNOR SPENT

200 NIGHTS IN THE HOSPITAL

AND I WENT HOME AND ALL

SHE HAD WAS A BEEPING MACHINE

AND A BEWILDERED SON;

THAT WAS THE FIRST SIX HOURS

OF CANCER.

SO IT WAS OUR FAITH,

OUR FAMILY, AND OUR FRIENDS

AND I REMEMBER WAKING UP

AT 3:00 IN THE MORNING GETTING

ON MY KNEES GOING, "HELP!"

IF SOMEONE'S COMING IN

TO ROB YOUR HOUSE

OR IF YOUR HOUSE IS ON FIRE

YOU GO FIGHT FOR YOUR CHILD,

YOU'RE THE DAD.

SO WE QUICKLY TURNED TO GOD

IMMEDIATELY.

WE WERE BELIEVERS BUT

NOW THE FIRE WAS TESTING

AND WE WERE BEING HONED

AND TESTED BY FIRE

RIGHT THEN AND THERE.

Joy: I GREW UP A PREACHER'S

DAUGHTER AND SO MY WHOLE LIFE

I HAD KNOWN BIBLE VERSES

AND I THOUGHT I HAD FAITH BUT

WHEN YOU'RE THROWN INTO THIS,

IT'S LIKE GOD TAKES WHAT

YOU'VE GOT IN YOUR HEAD

AND HE PUTS IT IN YOUR HEART,

AND THAT'S WHEN

YOU PUT FAITH IN ACTION.

THAT'S REALLY WHERE FOR US,

CONNOR WENT THROUGH ROUNDS

AND ROUNDS OF CHEMOTHERAPY,

TWO LONG SURGERIES,

ONE IN BOSTON, ONE IN HOUSTON,

RADIATION, PILLS AND PILLS

AND PILLS.

ALL THESE VISITS

TO THE CLINIC,

AND BLOOD TRANSFUSIONS AND...

Randy: HOW LONG WAS THIS

GOING ON?

Joy: IT WAS A FOUR

AND A HALF YEAR BATTLE.

Tait: THERE WAS 18 ROUNDS

OF CHEMO,

18 ROUNDS OF RADIATION,

75 PILLS A DAY.

Randy: AND WHAT DID IT DO

TO THE NEUROBLASTOMA?

Joy: WELL, LUCKILY,

A MIRACLE THAT

IT WASN'T GROWING.

THEY COULDN'T REMOVE

ALL OF HIS TUMOR IN BOSTON;

THEY REMOVED 70%.

AND EVERY DOCTOR SAID,

"IF YOU CAN'T GET ALL

OF IT OUT, IT WILL GROW;

IT WILL CONTINUE TO GROW."

AND IT NEVER DID.

IN FACT, LATER TESTS,

WHEN THEY PULLED MORE

OF THE TUMOR OUT

SHOWED IT NECROTIC,

IT WAS 100% DEAD.

IT WAS A MIRACLE.

Randy: SO HE BASICALLY

BEAT IT.

Tait: YES, HE BEAT IT.

Joy: THEN IN DECEMBER OF '08

THEY FOUND A NEW CANCER

CALLED MALIGNANT PERIPHERAL

NERVE SHEATH TUMOR

AND IT WAS CREATED BY

THE RADIATION THAT THEY HAD

USED TO TREAT THE FIRST CANCER.

Randy: AND HOW BAD WAS IT?

Tait: SO WE HAD

ANOTHER D DAY.

Joy: A DOCTOR TOLD US WHEN

A CANCER HAS BEEN CREATED

BY RADIATION, IT IS LIKE

A MONSTER ON STEROIDS.

IT'S NOT JUST A MONSTER

BUT IT'S A ROARING TRAIN

AND IT WAS.

THEY TOOK A LOT OF THAT

TUMOR OUT, THE CANCER,

AND THEY DID A CAT SCAN

SIX WEEKS LATER AND THEY SAID

IT'S LIKE THEY NEVER

TOOK IT OUT.

Tait: WE WERE ON VACATION

IN HAWAII AND WE COULD SEE IT,

LITTLE PINKY POKE

OUT OF HIS STOMACH RIGHT HERE.

Joy: THAT SIZE OF THE TUMOR,

JUST REALLY SMALL.

WE GO, "I WONDER

IF THAT'S THE CANCER?"

Tait: THAT WAS IN MARCH.

THEN THE FIRST OF APRIL

IT WAS A GOLF BALL,

THE FIRST OF MAY

IT WAS A SOFTBALL,

FIRST OF JUNE IT WAS --

BUT WHEN HE DIED IN JULY

IT WAS ALMOST THE SIZE

OF A CANTALOUPE.

Joy: LIKE HIS WHOLE STOMACH.

Randy: HOW DO YOU --

SO THIS BAD NEWS HAPPENS WITH

YOUR SON, YOU SPEND YEARS --

YOU'VE MENTIONED A VACATION

TO CABO, A VACATION

TO HAWAII, YOU HAVE

A GREAT JOB, YOU MAKE A LOT

OF MONEY, FAIR ENOUGH TO SAY?

SO YOU CAN THROW AT THAT CANCER

EVERYTHING YOU COULD DO.

Tait: WE DID.

WE FLEW HIM TO GUATEMALA,

WE WENT EVERYWHERE.

Randy: SO YOU DID MORE

THAN WHAT MOST PEOPLE COULD

EVEN AFFORD TO DO

AND HERE YOU THINK

YOU'VE GOT IT BEAT.

Joy: YEAH, THEY WERE GOING

TO TAKE HIS PORT OUT.

YOU'RE DONE WITH TREATMENT.

Tait: THEY TOLD US

IN DECEMBER, YOU BEAT IT!

Randy: AND THEN WHAT

YOU WERE DOING TO BEAT

THE CANCER CAUSED THE CANCER

THAT KILLED YOUR SON.

WHERE ARE YOU LEFT

AT THE END OF THAT?

Joy: ANGRY.

FRUSTRATED IS

AN UNDERSTATEMENT.

I JUST REMEMBER THINKING,

I WAS CONFUSED.

I ASKED GOD, "WHY DID YOU

HEAL HIM OF THE FIRST CANCER

FOR HIM TO GET A SECOND ONE?

IT JUST SEEMS CRUEL."

I DEFINITELY HAD A LOT

OF CONVERSATIONS WITH GOD.

I REMEMBER WHENEVER

THEY CAME INTO --

THEY FELT LIKE THEY HAD

GOTTEN ALL THE CANCER OUT

THE SECOND TIME WITH

THAT NEW CANCER

AND IF YOU CAN GET IT ALL OUT,

THEN YOU'RE GOOD.

THEN HE'LL SURVIVE BECAUSE

THERE IS NOTHING TO TREAT IT

EXCEPT FOR

COMPLETELY REMOVING IT.

BUT THEN THEY CAME IN

AND SAID, "WE GOT THE PATHOLOGY

BACK, AND IT WAS ACTUALLY --

THAT NEW CANCER WAS GROWING

INTO THAT OLD INOPERABLE

TUMOR SO THERE IS NOTHING

WE CAN DO."

WE TRIED CHEMOTHERAPY.

I REMEMBER GOING TO

THE BATHROOM, I DIDN'T

WANT CONNOR TO SEE ME.

I SHUT THE DOOR AND I SAID,

"GOD, I CAN'T DO THIS AGAIN.

I CAN'T WATCH MY SON

GO THROUGH THIS AGAIN."

WE WENT THROUGH AT THIS TIME

FOUR YEARS --

ALMOST FOUR YEARS AND I'M LIKE,

I CAN'T TELL HIM HE HAS

TO DO CHEMOTHERAPY AGAIN.

I CAN'T TELL HIM HE'S GOT

TO DO ALL THIS OVER AGAIN.

HE IS ENJOYING

THIS NEW NORMALCY,

THIS NEW FREEDOM OF KIND OF

BEING A NORMAL KID.

THE TREATMENT WASN'T THAT BAD.

HE'S THINKING,

HE'S TAKING THE PORT OUT.

Tait: HE DIDN'T REMEMBER

MUCH OF IT EITHER.

IN FACT, IN NEW YORK IN '07

THEY TOLD JOY TO TAKE HIM

HOME AND LET HIM SAVE

OUR FAMILY BECAUSE

THERE'S SOMETHING LIKE

A 80% DIVORCE RATE.

AND OUR MARRIAGE HAS BEEN

GREAT AND GOD HAS PROTECTED

OUR MARRIAGE AND OUR FAMILY,

AND YET, THEY TOLD US TO GO

HOME AND SAVE YOUR FAMILY

BECAUSE IT'S A BIG BATTLE.

SO WHEN THE SECOND CANCER

CAME AND WE WERE DIAGNOSED

IN HOUSTON, I WENT IN AND

DRY HEAVED IN THE BATHROOM.

I COME OUT AND I'M WIPING

MY FACE AND THE DOCTOR

RECOGNIZES ME AND HE GOES,

"WE DIAGNOSE CANCER

EVERY DAY."

HE GOES, "WHAT JUST HAPPENED

IS UNFAIR.

IT'S BELOW THE BELT."

BECAUSE NOW WE HAVE TWO

COMPLETELY SEPARATE DRAGONS

TRYING TO DEVOUR OUR SON.

AGAIN, HOW AS A FATHER,

YOU WANT TO GO OUT AND SLAY

THE DRAGON AND YOU CAN'T

AND YOU'VE GOT TO SIT THERE

AND TAKE IT.

AND WHEN IT STARTED GROWING

AGAIN, WHEN WE SAW IT

IN HAWAII, YOU JUST HAVE

TO SIT THERE AND TAKE IT.

SO WHEN WE GO TO CONNOR

WE SAY, "WELL, CONNOR,

THE CANCER IS BACK

AND YOU'VE GOT TO DO CHEMO."

HIS ONLY RESPONSE WHICH

I'VE LEARNED SO MUCH FROM

MY SON, HE GOES, "OH, MAN!"

THAT WAS IT!

"OH, MAN!"

THAT WAS IT.

NO COMPLAINT.

HE NEVER COMPLAINED.

WE'VE LEARNED SO MUCH

FROM OUR SON FROM THIS.

Debbie: DIDN'T HE HAVE

A FAVORITE PHRASE THAT

HE WOULD SAY THROUGHOUT THIS?

Joy: THEY ASKED HIM,

"IF YOU HAD ANYTHING

TO TELL SOMEBODY GOING THROUGH

CANCER OR FIGHTING THIS,

ANY KID GOING THROUGH THIS,

WHAT WOULD YOU TELL THEM?"

HE SAID, "HAVE COURAGE

AND BELIEVE IN JESUS."

Tait: THAT WAS IT.

Joy: AND THAT WAS AFTER

THE SECOND CANCER,

WHEN HE WAS TWO MONTHS --

WELL, A MONTH FROM

PASSING AWAY.

HE STILL...

HE DIDN'T WAIVER.

Randy: YOU REFERENCED

YOU WERE ASKING GOD,

CRYING OUT TO GOD,

ANGRY AT GOD,

LOOKING FOR ANSWERS,

ALL THE THINGS THAT

WE TOTALLY UNDERSTAND,

WHAT DID HE SAY?

Joy: WELL, IT WAS FRUSTRATING,

ESPECIALLY AFTER

HE PASSED AWAY.

EVEN BEFORE WE GOT

TO THE POINT WHERE WE WERE

DOING EVERYTHING, I MEAN

WE WERE...

HOLISTIC TREATMENTS,

GOING TO GUATEMALA,

ALL KINDS OF STUFF.

AND WE GOT TO THE POINT

WE SAID -- IT WAS THE DAY

BEFORE CONNOR PASSED AWAY.

I SAID, "GOD, WE --."

I WAS SO FRUSTRATED.

WE WENT ON THE PATIO

AND WE JUST PRAYED AND SAID,

"GOD, I CAN FIGHT

ALL DAY LONG FOR HIM.

I CAN DO BLOOD TRANSFUSIONS.

I CAN DO TREATMENTS BUT

IF IT IS NOT YOUR WILL

FOR HIM TO LIVE,

THEN TAKE HIM HOME..."

BECAUSE HE WAS SUFFERING.

Tait: IT WAS TORTUROUS.

Joy: IT'S JUST A SENSE

OF POWERLESSNESS THAT I HAD

AS A MOM AND HE HAD

AS A FATHER THAT YOU CAN'T --

YOU CAN'T FIX IT.

YOU CAN'T MAKE IT RIGHT

FOR THEM.

THAT OUR LIVES ARE

IN GOD'S HANDS, HE'S SOVEREIGN.

FOR ME, THAT'S KIND OF BEEN

MY STRUGGLE EVEN AFTER

CONNOR PASSED AWAY THAT

YOU CAN FIGHT UNTIL THE DAY

IS LONG AND YOU CAN PRAY.

I MENTIONED TO Y'ALL EARLIER

THAT I FELT LIKE I HAD

A CHECKLIST ON MY PRAYERS

TO MAKE GOD ANSWER MY PRAYERS.

YOU KNOW THE BIBLE SAYS,

WHEN TWO OR MORE ARE

GATHERED IN HIS NAME,

PRAY FOR OTHERS THAT

YOU MAY BE HEALED,

FAITH OF A MUSTARD SEED,

ALL THESE THINGS,

CLEANSE YOURSELF BEFORE

YOU PRAY FOR --

ALL THESE THINGS

AND IT DIDN'T WORK.

WHERE DO YOU GO WITH THAT?

THAT'S WHAT I THINK

BROUGHT UP A LOT OF MY ANGER.

I FELT LIKE HE WASN'T

LISTENING TO ME.

HE WASN'T HEARING MY PRAYER.

Tait: AND WE THOUGHT

WE HEARD HIM

IN THE FIRST CANCER.

I BELIEVE WE DID.

BUT WHEN THE SECOND DIAGNOSIS

HAPPENED, WHICH IS RIGHT

AROUND CHRISTMAS EVE '08,

NOTHING, WE NEVER HEARD --

Joy: WELL, EVERY PRAYER

WAS NOT ANSWERED

IN OUR FAVOR, IN CONNOR'S FAVOR

SO THAT'S WHY WE FELT

HE WASN'T --

Tait: IT WAS A FAST TRAIN

-- IT WAS A FAST TRAIN.

Randy: IN YOUR BOOK YOU TALK

ABOUT AN INCIDENT THAT

OCCURRED SEVERAL YEARS LATER.

YOU GUYS NOW HAVE

A FOUNDATION IN HIS MEMORY

TO FIGHT CANCER.

Tait: TEAM CONNOR.

Randy: AND YOU DO A RUN.

TAKE ME TO THAT DAY

WHERE YOU'RE RUNNING UP THAT

HILL TO FINISH UP THAT RUN.

JUST TO SET THE STAGE,

IN THE RUN YOU HAVE

HOW MANY PEOPLE RUN THIS RACE?

Joy: WELL, IT'S A 500-MILE

RELAY, SO PEOPLE RUN IT

IN PAIRS OR BY THEMSELVES.

A FIVE MILE --

Tait: FORTY OR FIFTY PEOPLE.

Randy: AND YOU GUYS END IT.

Tait: SO IT'S FIVE-MILE

TRACKS AND WE HAD ALREADY

RUN A COUPLE AND IT WAS

THE LAST ONE AND WE'RE RUNNING

TOGETHER UP THE HILL

AND THERE'S ABOUT A QUARTER

OF A MILE WHERE THE CROWD

CAN SEE US.

SO YOU COME UP

AND ALL THE SUDDEN YOU APPEAR

AND THEY START CLAPPING.

AND I'LL LET YOU --

Joy: WELL, THEY STARTED

CLAPPING AND YELLING OUR NAMES

AND I THOUGHT, THAT'S WHAT

IT MUST HAVE BEEN LIKE

FOR CONNOR WHEN HE GOT

TO HEAVEN,

ALL THE PEOPLE THAT HAD

BEEN WATCHING HIM FROM ABOVE,

HE MUST HAVE THOUGHT,

"WOW, THIS IS AWESOME!"

A LOT OF TIMES I CAN JUST

HEAR CONNOR SAY, "MOM,

IT'S GOING TO BE WORTH IT.

IT'S GOING TO BE WORTH IT.

HANG IN THERE AND FIGHT

AND RUN THE RACE STRONG,

RUN IT HARD BECAUSE

IT'S WORTH IT.

ALL THAT YOU GO THROUGH

DOWN THERE, IT'S WORTH IT

TO BE UP HERE."

Tait: REMEMBER WHEN HE

TALKED ABOUT HIS SECOND HOME?

THAT'S REALLY IMPACTFUL.

Joy: WELL, IT WAS A YEAR

BEFORE HE PASSED AWAY.

HE SAID, "MOM, I'M READY

TO GO HOME."

I'M LIKE, "WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

YOU ARE HOME."

HE SAID, "WELL, IF GOD'S

MY HEAVENLY FATHER,

THEN HEAVEN IS MY HOME."

I SAID, "SO YOU'RE READY

TO GO TO HEAVEN?"

"NO, NOT YET...

NOT YET, MOM."

AND HE PASSED IT OFF,

AND HE DIDN'T SAY

ANYTHING ELSE.

BUT I JUST SAW GOD

WORKING ON HIM.

WE NEVER TALKED ABOUT

HIS IMMINENT DEATH BECAUSE

WE BELIEVED THAT GOD WOULD

HEAL HIM, UP TO THE VERY END.

I THINK THAT'S WHERE

WHEN YOU PLACE SUCH FAITH

IN GOD AND YOU EXPECT

THAT HEALING AND THAT'S

WHERE THE FRUSTRATION CAME,

FOR ME, AND THE ANGER

BECAUSE YOU BELIEVED AND THEN

YOU FELT LET DOWN

AND SOMETIMES I FELT LIKE

GOD DIDN'T LOVE ME.

Randy: IS THAT WHERE THAT

TRANSFORMED HOPE COMES FROM

THAT YOU ALLUDE TO

IN YOUR TITLE?

Joy: YES.

BECAUSE THE WHOLE TIME

CONNOR WAS SICK, OUR HOPE

WAS THAT GOD WOULD HEAL

CONNOR BUT ULTIMATELY,

OUR HOPE IS FOUND IN CHRIST.

A MONTH BEFORE CONNOR

PASSED AWAY, I HAD READ

THIS PASSAGE IN THE BIBLE

AND IT TALKS ABOUT WHERE

JOHN THE BAPTIST SENT OUT

HIS DISCIPLES TO TALK TO JESUS.

AND JESUS SAYS,

"GO BACK --."

AND JOHN IS IN PRISON.

JESUS SAID, "GO BACK

AND TELL JOHN THAT I AM

HEALING THE SICK

AND I AM MAKING THE LAME WALK

AND THE BLIND SEE

AND THE DEAF HEAR."

AND JESUS SAYS, "BUT DON'T LET

THAT BE A STUMBLING BLOCK."

I THOUGHT, WHAT DOES

THAT MEAN?

BUT IN REALITY HE MEANT,

"I'M HEALING ALL THESE PEOPLE

AND I'M DOING ALL THESE THINGS

BUT JOHN, I'M NOT GOING

TO RESCUE YOU."

AND JUST LIKE HE DIDN'T

RESCUE CONNOR,

ON THIS EARTH, BUT ULTIMATELY

I COULD THINK ON JULY 10th,

2009, CONNOR'S EYES DID OPEN,

THAT'S THE DAY

HE PASSED AWAY --

Tait: SPIRITUALLY

HE WAS RESCUED,

JUST NOT HIS PHYSICAL.

Joy: AND HIS EYES OPENED

TO SEE THE FACE OF GOD.

Debbie: WELL, I LOVE

HOW THAT WAS LIKE

THE ULTIMATE VICTORY YOU SAID

BECAUSE AS A CHRISTIAN,

WE HAVE THAT BUT AS

A NON BELIEVER YOU DON'T.

Joy: AND HE HAD BEEN IN

A WHEELCHAIR THE LAST MONTH

AND HIS LEGS WALKED

AND DANCED ON THE STREETS

OF GOLD.

I THINK WHEN I WORRY

OR I QUESTION, IS GOD GOOD

TO LET THAT HAPPEN?

DOES HE LOVE ME?

I THOUGHT, WELL, YES,

HE RESCUED US FOR ETERNITY.

HE RESCUED MY SON.

SO THAT'S WHERE OUR HOPE

IS TRANSFORMED.

Randy: THERE IS SOMETHING

IN YOUR BOOK THAT I WANT

PEOPLE TO HEAR.

AND TAIT, I BELIEVE

YOU WROTE THIS.

I'LL JUST READ STRAIGHT

FROM THE BOOK AND I WANT

YOUR REACTION.

"WHILE WAITING FOR CONNOR'S

CHEMO TO DRIP ON A SUMMER DAY

IN 2005, WE BOTH LOOKED OUT

AT THE WEST AND DREAMED.

WE DREAMED OF GOING

TO TEXAS STADIUM AND SEEING

THE COWBOYS PLAY.

I STARTED TELLING HIM

ABOUT THE ROCK CONCERTS

I'D SEEN THERE.

WE TALKED ABOUT PLAYING

OUTSIDE, RUNNING, LAUGHING,

CHASING AND TUMBLING

TO THE GROUND IN EXHAUSTION.

A LITTLE BOY IN PAJAMAS

AND A DAD IN SHORTS

DREAMING ABOUT BASEBALL,

BIKE RIDES AND FIREWORKS.

WHEN CONNOR'S DRIP WAS DONE

AND HE WAS ABLE TO LEAVE

THE 10th FLOOR ONCOLOGY AREA

WE WENT DOWN TO

THE HOSPITAL LOBBY

AND OUT THE FRONT DOOR.

I CARRIED HIM TO A SMALL

20 BY 20 FOOT PATCH OF GRASS

WHERE THE PARKING LOT

MET THE STREET.

I CLEARED THE TRASH

AND CIGARETTES

AND WE LAID DOWN IN THE GRASS.

OUR MINDS DRIFTED TO

THE ROLLING HILLS OF IRELAND

AND A SANDY BEACH IN HAWAII.

WE COVERED THE GLOBE ON

THAT DAY AND WE STAYED THERE

UNTIL THE MOON CAME OUT AND

THE STARS PUT MY SON TO BED.

WE DREAMED BIG IN

THE BIGGEST BACKYARD

IN THE WORLD THAT DAY."

YOU DIDN'T HAVE THAT CHANCE

TO DO THOSE THINGS WITH

YOUR SON BUT GOD GAVE YOU

A GLIMPSE.

Tait: I DID THAT NIGHT.

I DID THAT NIGHT.

I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR

EIGHT YEARS WITH THAT BOY

THAT I'M NOT BITTER OVER

50 I DIDN'T GET.

BECAUSE THERE WERE TONS

OF EVENTS AND INSTANCES

LIKE THAT, GOD --

THAT WAS AN AWESOME NIGHT.

IT WAS GREAT.

I HAVE HAD THOSE EVENTS

WITH HIM.

WE LIVED BIG THAT NIGHT.

HIS LAST BASEBALL GAME

HE HIT THE WINNING RBI

AND HE COULD BARELY WALK.

HE COULD BARELY WALK

AND HE LITERALLY SWUNG THE BAT,

IT WAS SO PERFECT,

THE OTHER TEAM SAW IT.

HE HIT IT, AND IT WAS

THE SAME THING LIKE THAT:

HE HIT IT, HE PUSHES THE KID

FROM THIRD TO HOME.

HE BARELY GETS TO FIRST.

THEY'RE TRYING

TO THROW HIM OUT.

Joy: HE WAS SO THIN

HIS PANTS WOULDN'T STAY UP

SO HE HAS TO RUN HOLDING

HIS PANTS UP.

Tait: HE COULD BARELY LIFT

THE BAT, HE WAS LOADED

WITH CANCER.

I WOULDN'T TRADE THAT

WITH PEYTON MANNING'S DAD,

TONY ROMO'S DAD, MY SON

WON THE GAME.

SO EIGHT YEARS OF

A GLORIOUS LIFE.

Randy: AND HE WON THE RACE.

Joy: HE DID!

Randy: THANK YOU GUYS

FOR SHARING YOUR STORY.

WE TALKED EARLIER ABOUT

SOMETHING WE'RE DOING

WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO SAVE

KIDS' LIVES AROUND THE WORLD.

YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE A PARENT,

YOU'RE A GRANDPARENT,

YOU KNOW YOU'D DO ANYTHING

-- ANYTHING TO SAVE THAT LIFE

AND ALL THE EXPENSE

THAT THE CRUSES WENT THROUGH

AND ALL THE TRAVEL

AND ALL THE SLEEPLESS NIGHTS,

OR SLEEPING IN A HOSPITAL BED,

IT WAS WORTH IT --

IT WAS WORTH IT.

WE DO WHAT WE CAN

TO SAVE THE KIDS.

GO WITH ME TO A PLACE

HALFWAY AROUND THE WORLD

WHERE WE HAVE

THE OPPORTUNITY RIGHT NOW

TO SAVE SO MANY LIVES.

WATCH THIS.

Randy: THIS IS AN AMAZING AREA.

WE'RE IN CAMBODIA ON A RIVER THAT'S ABOUT 15 MILES WIDE

AND THERE ARE FLOATING VILLAGES.

YET WHEN YOU LOOK AT ALL THIS WATER, IT'S DEATH.

AND IN ONE SMALL PHARMACY ALONE,

WHICH IS THE ONLY MEDICAL FACILITY THEY HAVE

IN ONE OF THESE FLOATING VILLAGES,

THE RETIRED NURSE THERE SAID THAT HE'S SEEN A CHILD DIE

ON AVERAGE EVERY OTHER WEEK.

Randy: THEY COOK WITH IT, THEY BATHE IN IT,

AND THEY GO TO THE RESTROOM IN IT

AND THEY DIE BY THIS VERY WATER.

Randy: TELL THEM WE WILL DO WHAT WE CAN

SO HE DOESN'T LOSE ANYMORE GRANDCHILDREN.

WE CAN CHANGE THEIR LIVES.

WE CAN STOP THE SICKNESSES THAT ARE KILLING THEIR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN.

WE CAN JUST SIMPLY GIVE THEM CLEAN DRINKING WATER.

Randy: AS I TALKED TO THAT

COUPLE THERE, THEY ARE

ACTUALLY GRANDPARENTS,

THEY LOOK YOUNG BUT

THEY'RE GRANDPARENTS;

THEY LOST A GRANDCHILD

TO WATERBORNE ILLNESS.

I ASKED THEM A COUPLE

OF THINGS, A COUPLE OF

VERY PRACTICAL QUESTIONS

BECAUSE I ALWAYS WANT TO KNOW

WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON HERE

IN THESE AREAS WHERE

WE'RE DOING THESE THINGS.

I SAID TWO THINGS,

"WHY DON'T YOU MOVE?"

BECAUSE THAT RIVER

IS JUST AWFUL AND THERE'S

CHILDREN DYING FAR TOO OFTEN.

THEY SAID, "WHERE WOULD WE GO?

WE DON'T HAVE ANY LAND.

WE DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY

TO BUY LAND.

WE WERE BORN ON THIS RIVER,

THIS IS WHERE WE LIVE."

I THOUGHT, WOW,

THEY'RE STUCK.

THEY WOULD GO IF THEY COULD

BUT THEY'RE REALLY STUCK.

THEN I ASKED THEM

WHAT REALLY PROBABLY SOUNDED

LIKE A DUMB QUESTION TO THEM.

I SAID, "IF WE DRILL A WELL

ON SHORE, WHICH IS JUST

A FEW HUNDRED YARDS AWAY,

WOULD YOU GO OVER THERE

AND GET THE CLEAN

DRINKING WATER?"

SHE LOOKED AT ME

WITH THIS EXPRESSION THAT

KIND OF MADE ME REALIZE

THAT IT KIND OF

SOUNDED DUMB TO THEM.

OF COURSE, THEY WILL GO

GET THE WATER.

THEY KNOW THE WATER

IS KILLING THEM.

THEY WOULD DO ANYTHING

FOR THEIR GRANDCHILDREN

OR THEIR CHILDREN,

JUST LIKE YOU AND I WOULD.

IF THEY WERE IN

OUR NEIGHBORHOOD,

WE WOULD INVITE THEM OVER

AND SAY, "DRINK THIS WATER."

WELL, THE ONLY WAY WE CAN

IMPACT THEM THAT FAR

IN CAMBODIA, IN AFRICA,

IN SOUTHEAST ASIA,

ALL OVER WHERE

WE'RE DRILLING WATER WELLS

IS TO JOIN TOGETHER.

I UNDERSTAND YOUR FINANCIAL

RESOURCES REPRESENT

YOUR WORK, YOUR TIME,

YOUR TALENT, THAT'S WHAT

I'M ASKING YOU TO GIVE.

IF WE WILL ALL WORK TOGETHER

WE CAN REACH OUR GOAL.

WHEN WE DRILL HUNDREDS

OF WELLS AROUND THE WORLD,

IT AVERAGES OUT TO $48

HELPING TEN PEOPLE --

TEN PEOPLE!

AND NOT JUST FOR

A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME

BUT FOR A LIFETIME!

IF YOU CAN GIVE $1200

WE'LL SEND YOU A BEAUTIFUL

BRONZE THAT WILL REMIND YOU

OF THE SACRIFICE YOU MADE

AND THE IMPACT YOU HAVE HAD

AND YOU CAN JOIN WITH

THREE OTHERS TO DRILL A WELL.

SOME OF YOU CAN GIVE $4800

OR MORE AND DRILL

AN ENTIRE WELL.

IT'S A GIFT THAT WILL

KEEP ON GIVING.

YOU CAN MAKE AN IMPACT

RIGHT NOW AT WHATEVER LEVEL

YOU CAN GIVE.

I'M ASKING YOU

JUST TO JOIN WITH US.

I'M INVITING YOU TO JOIN

WITH US ON THIS WONDERFUL

MISSION TO CHANGE LIVES,

TO SAVE LIVES.

PICK UP THE PHONE RIGHT NOW.

CALL THE NUMBER ON THE SCREEN

OR GO TO THE WEB SITE,

MAKE A GIFT, JOIN WITH US,

JOIN WITH OTHERS

AS WE REACH OUT AND SHARE

THE LOVE AND THE LIFE

OF JESUS CHRIST BY GIVING

LIVING WATER TO THOSE

IN DESPERATE NEED.

THANK YOU!

Announcer: EVERY DAY MILLIONS OF CHILDREN

ARE FORCED TO MAKE A DREADFUL CHOICE,

DRINK FILTHY POLLUTED WATER FILLED WITH DEADLY DISEASE

OR DIE FROM THIRST.

NO CHILD SHOULD EVER BE FACED WITH THIS DECISION!

THE GOOD NEWS IS THERE IS A SOLUTION!

MISSION: WATER FOR LIFE

IS ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING AND VIABLE DEMONSTRATIONS

OF GOD'S LOVE IN THE WORLD TODAY.

SUFFERING CAN END

BECAUSE CLEAN WATER CHANGES EVERYTHING!

WITH YOUR GIFT TODAY, WE CAN ESTABLISH

AND DRILL 350 NEW WATER WELLS

FOR REMOTE VILLAGES IN 12 DIFFERENT NATIONS.

YOUR GIFT OF $24

WILL HELP PROVIDE CLEAN WATER FOR FIVE PEOPLE!

A GIFT OF $48 WILL HELP PROVIDE FOR 10 PEOPLE.

$72 WILL IMPACT 15 PEOPLE.

AND $144 WILL HELP PROVIDE FRESH, CLEAN,

DISEASE-FREE WATER

FOR 30 PEOPLE FOR A LIFETIME!

WITH YOUR GIFT BE SURE TO REQUEST ARISE,

A BEAUTIFUL NEW DAILY DEVOTIONAL

FEATURING WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT FROM INSPIRING WOMEN

WHO HAVE SHARED THEIR FAITH ON LIFE TODAY.

WITH YOUR GIFT OF $100 OR MORE,

YOU MAY REQUEST THE ARISE AUDIO VISUAL DEVOTIONAL

FEATURING 40 DAYS OF INSPIRATION

FROM LIFE TODAY'S FAVORITE WOMEN GUESTS.

PLEASE PRAYERFULLY CONSIDER A GIFT OF $1200

TO HELP PROVIDE WATER FOR 250 PEOPLE

OR A GIFT OF $4800

TO HELP SPONSOR A COMPLETE WELL.

AND BE SURE TO REQUEST THE 2012 COMMEMORATIVE BRONZE SCULPTURE,

"THE LION AND THE LAMB."

PLEASE CALL, WRITE, OR MAKE YOUR SECURE GIFT ONLINE TODAY!

Randy: THANK YOU SO MUCH

FOR SUPPORTING

MISSION: WATER FOR LIFE.

IT REALLY MEANS SO MUCH

TO THOSE WE IMPACT.

WOULD YOU THANK THE CRUSES

FOR BEING HERE ON LIFE TODAY?

BEFORE WE LET YOU GO,

I WANT YOU TO TELL US

WHERE PEOPLE CAN GO

TO HELP TEAM CONNOR.

Joy: TEAM CONNOR

IS WWW.TEAMCONNOR.ORG.

IT IS C-O-N-N-O-R.ORG.

AND FOR THE BOOK YOU CAN GO

TO HOPETRANSFORMED.COM

AND FIND US BOTH ON FACEBOOK.

Randy: PLEASE DO.

PLEASE CHECK IT OUT,

ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE IN

THAT SITUATION OR YOU KNOW

SOMEONE THAT IS,

OR IF YOU'VE ASKED

THE HARD QUESTIONS.

ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU

FOR BEING HERE.

AND THANK YOU

FOR WATCHING LIFE TODAY!

§

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§

§

§

Announcer: FAITH, FAMILY, AND FREEDOM ARE UNDER ATTACK.

JAMES ROBISON AND JAY RICHARDS ENCOURAGE A DIVIDED AMERICA

TO STAND TOGETHER BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.

INDIVISIBLE -- NOW AVAILABLE IN PAPERBACK

AT ONLINE AND RETAIL BOOKSTORES.

Joy: WHY DID YOU ANSWER THEIR PRAYERS BUT NOT OURS?

Announcer: NEXT WEEK, TWO FAMILIES FACED WITH TRAGEDY

AND STRUGGLES ASK THE TOUGH QUESTIONS.