St Jude

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by Loretta

August 2011

I am Alex Bowman's grandmother. My family has for many years had great devotion to St. Jude. I am 78 years old, and back as far as I can remember as a child, my father brought home stories about St. Jude.

My father traveled, and we had a large family. He would tell my mother how worried he was when he would be on the road for weeks, and only gotten paid in 2 or 3 chickens, but no cash. He would tell us how he just simply told St Jude, that he couldn't go home to my mother with no cash, because she had to have groceries for us, and maybe school supplies, or maybe even Christmas gifts. He said not once did St. Jude let him down. He always made a sale and brought my mother what she needed. Somewhere in his travels, much later, he met Danny Thomas and was forever an even stronger fan of St. Jude.

We always believed that St. Jude brought my oldest brother home from the war in 1945. He had been an infantry officer, and a prisoner in Germany, but he came home whole and entire to us. Later, when he married his pretty Irish American wife, they had 5 children. Before the 5th one was born, there was some problem, but I don't remember what it was. My brother was telling Daddy how worried they were, and my father said with all the confidence in the world, that it would not be a problem, we would all pray to St. Jude and the baby would be as perfect as the others. There was a catch though. My brother should promise St. Jude something. My brother didn't know what to do, as he had a fledgling business and money was tight.

He and his wife thought and thought and finally decided that if the baby was born without the expected problem, they would name him Jude. Of course, he was perfect and they named him Jude. He is now a Medical Doctor in his 50's and a wonderful man with a lovely family of his own.

When my son, Sean asked me in June 2011, if I thought St. Jude would be pleased if Alex could run his car with the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital logo, I was thrilled. We are so desperate for a sponsor for Alex, and I believe St. Jude will help. I made a private pledge to St. Jude that the first time Alex won, driving with his logo on his car that I would donate $10,000.00 to St. Jude.

It isn't much money, not in today's world, but I know St. Jude knows it comes from my heart.

Alex is my whole world. He is a phenomenal driver, and I know his career will be a brilliant one. I have tried to do what I can, but I have St. Jude in my corner now and I know he will help Alex to find the funds he needs.

We love St. Jude.

Sincerely,
Loretta