Finding out your child is sick isn't easy for any parent.... But learning the illness could kill them is even worse. Parents will do anything to give their child the best shot at recovery.

That’s where St. Jude Children's Research Hospital comes in. Long touted as the best chance a child has at surviving a terminal illness, Saint Jude in Memphis sees over 5000 patients a year. One of those patients is Tony Cain.

"Get another puppy"

In case you couldn't understand Tony, he said get another puppy. That's what he's going to do when he gets out of St. Jude, after he wins the fight of his life.

"We’re a lot closer"

Mom, Jennifer will give in on the puppy; it will be Tony’s fourth, as long as she can have her baby, healthy.

"He’s always been a mammas boy"

Now he's a boy fighting bone cancer.

And at St. Jude... This is part of the experience ... Building blocks in one of the many playrooms, while doctors tear down Tony’s cancer cells

But Tony would rather be back home, in New Madrid, Missouri ... That's in the bootheel. Its back home where this 7 year old can go swimming and play with his puppies and his sister. And it's at his Grandma's house where he was this time last year jumping around on the bed. It broke and Tony fell.

"Started limping after that, assured us nothing was wrong"

But something was wrong; Tony had cancer in his pelvis. The doctors in New Madrid immediately sent him to St. Jude.

"You’re just in shock you don't have a clue"

Add to that shock, five rounds of chemotherapy and then surgery to remove most of Tony’s pelvis. Tony had to learn to walk again after the surgery and there are some things he may never do.

"He can't run"

But he can still play, still smile and still beat the odds.


"His chances were 65 percent when we first got here"

Not exactly a survival rate to brag about, but as Tony continues to improve each day, that number holds less meaning for this family.

"I think every family here doesn't think about what their percentage is, every family has hope"

Hope is where you come in. St. Jude doesn't charge patients anything. If insurance won't cover the medical costs, the hospital will not charge the family. This is practically unheard of.

St Jude is America’s third largest health care charity and they rely on donations from you and me. That’s why KSPR is sponsoring the saint Jude dream home giveaway.

The home is located in the vintage hills subdivision on the west side of Springfield at the corner of Eastland and farm road 146.

The home will be open Saturday from 9 to 5 and then Sunday from 12 to 5 for you to see it. It’s an almost $400,000 home you can win for $100.