Everyone Should Be Like This St. Jude Patient [VIDEO]

The world would be a much better place if we were all a little bit more like Courtney. That is a valuable lesson I learned while in Memphis visiting St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. If everyone could be like this 16-year-old girl, we would be better off for it.

We met a girl named Courtney who has been a patient of St. Jude since before she was even born. Courtney is a sickle cell patient, who at 16, handles life with more grace and more positivity than anyone I have ever met. She spoke of her disease and her pain with a huge smile, ear to ear, and a laugh that was contagious.

Today you may have thought my boss is a jerk, my internet is slow, my coffee was terrible, the traffic was bad, and this weather is driving me crazy. Things get put into perspective when you hear from a girl like Courtney.

As I said, Courtney has sickle cell which causes her an immense amount of pain. She spoke of when she was learning to walk and her pain crisis would get so bad she would only crawl because it was just too painful to walk. She still has these terrible episodes of pain, which are so bad she has to go to the hospital. She talked about her pain with a smile. She spoke of her disease, which she has had her entire life, while giggling.

I left there thinking, I wish everyone could meet Courtney. I left there thinking, I wish everyone could be like Courtney. This 16-year-old girl handles life with more grace than most adults and has faced more than most adults.

While you are listening to our St. Jude Radiothon today and tomorrow, think of Courtney. Think of the girl who has been a patient at St. Jude since before she was born and at 16 is still a patient a day. Think of how becoming a Partner in Hope helps children like Courtney.

There are 2 ways to become a Partner in Hope:

1. Call 1-800-372-4999 right now!

2. Click here to make a secure online donation.

Learn more about Courtney: