Preface: I am blessed that God put Susan in my life this year. She loves the Lord and walks the walk. She’s real. I hope you find strength through this story.
When Susan Norris was dating her now husband, Randy, she befriended his childhood friend, Jason, and Jason’s girlfriend, Courtney. They became close friends… planning their weddings together, planning the birth of their children, and vacationing together. Susan’s son Timothy and Courtney’s son Tucker were born 12 weeks apart.
Courtney and Susan
Shortly before Tucker’s first birthday in 2001, he was diagnosed with cancer. Susan remembers the year of chemo and hospital visits that they would make to see Tucker. She remembers how Tucker’s eyes would light up to see Timothy, and Timothy would push him around in a cart or wagon.
Tucker gave his last battle against cancer last May, shortly after his ninth birthday. Susan’s son Timothy sat at Tucker’s bedside during his last week on Earth. How, as a parent, do you teach your child to deal with grief at such a young age? How does a 10-year old boy process that he has lost his best friend?
Timothy Norris, with the help of his parents, is learning how to deal with his loss. He is living out Tucker’s bible verse that Tucker embraced throughout his battle with cancer, Joshua 1:9. “Be strong and courageous for the Lord your God is with you.”
Recently, while out to eat with his parents, Timothy saw a Relay for Life kick-off party at the restaurant and said that he “should do that for Tucker.” Ryan Gaines, a member of the Norris’ church, had the idea to create a video for youtube.
Sometimes kids come up with ideas and they stay just that – an idea. Not this time. Susan made sure to put the action behind the idea to make it a reality.
Susan worked with Timothy and asked him what he wanted to say. She helped him write the script and helped him to practice. Details didn’t go unnoticed. The video is shot in Timothy’s bedroom, and the trophy on his bedside table is one that was given out at church for memorizing 15 bible passages. Tucker had one just like it.
Timothy has a goal to raise $1,000 for cancer research, and he invites kids to join him in the Relay for Life walk. Susan purchased plastic bats, cut slits in them for money collection, and gave the bats out to kids to collect donations. Timothy, with the help of his mom, is teaching other kids the ethic of service and how to show compassion for others.
Thank you, Susan, for teaching us about love and courage.
Love and Blessings,
**If you would like to read Tucker’s story, you can click here to read it on CaringBridge.
**Read about The Church at Ross Station here (where Randy Norris is the pastor).
