Partners in Hope

“Partners in Hope”

For many years, Pam and I have gotten ready for work each morning listening to Big D and Bubba on KNUE radio out of Tyler, Texas.  In 1996, KNUE joined the St. Jude ‘Country Cares’ telethon.  From the first broadcast, Pam found it impossible to put on her eye makeup while listening to the touching stories from St. Jude.  She immediately wanted to become a “Partner in Hope,” but wanted me to make the call.  Even though I fully supported the cause, I was so busy at work that I simply didn’t have time to make the call.  I told Pam she could make the pledge; it was as simple as calling 1-800-323-HOPE.

That evening, I was sitting in the kitchen watching ESPN SportsCenter and eating a snack when Pam arrived home.  I asked her, “How did your day go?  Did you call St. Jude?”

“Yes, I called St. Jude, but it didn’t turn out exactly like I imagined.  After I arrived at work, I asked a co-worker to help me, put my phone on speaker, and dialed the number.  When the phone was answered, the lady on the other end of the call offered to ‘fulfill my wildest fantasy’.  Realizing I had misdialed and reached a porn line, I frantically tried to hang up the phone, but couldn’t get it to disconnect.  Finally, after what seemed forever, I was able to hang up the phone.  I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, but eventually looked up the correct number, redialed and made our pledge.  Later that day, I met with my supervisor to inform him that I had inadvertently called a porn line on the bank’s phone.  He asked if I had hung up immediately and I related the story again about the speaker phone and how I hung up as quickly as I could.”

By this point in the story, my attention had drifted back toward ESPN while trying to also listen to Pam.  I became increasingly focused on ESPN when I distinctly heard Pam say, “ . . . and the lady knew you . . .”  Immediately my head whipped toward Pam and all attention was focused back on her.  “No way”, I said, “No way that lady on the porn line knew me.  Why did you say that?”  Pam realized I had lost track of her story and answered, “Not the lady on the porn line.  The lady taking St. Jude pledges knew you.  She had worked in the labs before retiring from Eastman.”  Sheepishly, I admitted that I knew the lady from Eastman taking pledges for St. Jude’s.

Over the years, Pam and I have often laughed about how we became “Partners in Hope.”   We have been touched by those we have been privileged to help through our modest donations – a child on a flight to Memphis, our dear Skylar, and many others.  We encourage others to join us as “Partners in Hope,” but be careful how you dial!

(The current number is 800.822.6344 or stjude.org)