Connor Cruse

On July 10, we lost a friend, an inspiration, a tireless advocate for childhood cancer awareness. He was only 8-years-old, but he touched lives not only in his immediate family or in his Frisco neighborhood. Connor Cruse and his story of bravery and optimism affected people across the globe.

Connor, a patient in the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders (CCBD) at Children's, was diagnosed with neuroblastoma when he was just 4-years-old. He was a media darling. He gravitated toward cameras, and they gravitated toward him. Maybe it was his sweet smile, maybe it was his charismatic personality, maybe he realized this was his opportunity to teach the world about childhood cancer, to make us all aware that we need to do more to find a cure.

Connor's parents kept a web site throughout their son's treatment - to educate and to raise awareness and to keep friends and family updated on his condition. This little trouper spent 220 nights in the hospital; he underwent 16 rounds of chemotherapy; endured 14 surgeries. Family says he never complained, never accepted that he was sick. Just that he had cancer. But, that wasn't going to let him stop living or loving life.

Connor and his family received well wishes from hometown friends, strangers in more than 70 countries, American troops stationed across the globe. Even beyond that, his legacy was quite literally out of this world - astronauts prayed for this little boy from the international space station.

More than 4,000 people attended his funeral services this week; his church's pastor said he had never seen a line so long to offer condolences to a family. Many of the mourners never met Connor in person. But, like we were, they were all touched by his grace, his heart, his hope for a brighter future for all children.