Childhood Memories.
I don’t have many memories from my early childhood. I don’t remember taking my first steps, saying my first words, or playing with my friends at daycare, but I do remember the first time I met Connor Cruse. We were both in Mrs. King’s PreK-4 class, and we had both just begun the most exciting day of our lives up to that point—our first ever day of school. Although I didn’t know it at the time, the young boy that talked with me on that first day of school would become one of the most influential people in my life. It speaks volumes about Connor’s character and impact that he is the only of my close childhood friends that I have a vivid memory of meeting. Connor was the type of person that no one could ever forget. From the way he loved his friends to the way he demonstrated a strength of faith that I have yet to see in any other person, Connor left a legacy of inspiration with each and every person he knew. Even people in distant places that never personally met Connor were touched by his story and by the power of his faith in the Lord. Even though he is not physically with us here on earth, the legacy of Connor’s story continues to impact the lives of families whose children are affected by childhood cancer, the school community he loved so much, and every single person that had the pleasure of calling him a friend. Each time I am asked to share my testimony, I always talk about the example that Connor set for living a life completely sold out for the gospel. Seeing the way that Connor persevered through incomprehensible adversity made me realize the true depth of relationship that Christians can have with Jesus.
Dealing with the death of one of my closest friends was extremely difficult for me as an 8 year old kid. For a long time, I was angry at God and confused why He would take Connor away. Slowly, though, I began to understand that Connor’s story didn’t end with his passing. His story continues to shape the world for the kingdom of God in ways that even the strongest Christians I know could only dream of. Connor’s faith moves mountains even in his absence from the earth. I cannot wait to see him again one day and tell him about the incredible work God has done through his story both in my own life and across the world. To learn more about the important work of TeamConnor Childhood Cancer Foundation please visit TeamConnor.org.
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Did You Know
Building awareness of childhood cancer is critical to funding and finding a cure. To help, please consider sharing teamconnor.org on your Facebook.
Today, 46 children will be diagnosed with cancer. Seven will lose their battle.
Did you know September is National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month!
Every day in America, approximately 46 children are diagnosed with cancer.
Childhood cancer does not discriminate, sparing no ethnic group, socio-economic class, or geographic region.
Rhabdomyosarcoma is the most common soft tissue sarcoma in children, accounting for about 3% of childhood cancers.
On average, 1 in every 4 elementary schools has a child with cancer.
About one-third of childhood cancers are leukemias.
Childhood cancer survival rates in the United States have increased from less than 20% in the 1960s to almost 80% today.
Cancer kills more children each year than Asthma, Cystic Fibrosis, Diabetes, and Pediatric AIDS combined.
Childhood cancer is not one disease entity, but rather a spectrum of different malignancies. Cancers found in children are biologically different from those seen in adults.
1 in 300 children will develop cancer before age 20.
Neuroblastoma is the most common extra cranial solid tumor cancer in children.
Today, up to 75% of the children with cancer can be cured, yet, some forms of childhood cancers have proven so resistant to treatment that, in spite of research, a cure is illusive.
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