Cancer Survivors Network

>> we were in shock. it was awful. >> andrew: a family gets the grim diagnosis. >> you never think your child is going to have cancer. it changes your life completely.

>> andrew: see how "700 club interactive" and "rock solid" helps them. >> we bring play back into the equation. >> andrew: on today's "700 club interactive." >>> good morning and welcome to the show.

many people dread being inside a hospital, due to all of the germs and sickness, but one man is battling the evil forces of illness. >> terry: for 12 years, nurse tobin matthew has been fighting sickness and

fear at a chicago hospital. he dresses in super hero cuscostumes all year around to bring some fight for their patients. and tobin was even interviewed for nbc's "making a difference"

segment. he has played all sorts of roles, including hanging upside down from a patient's door as spiderman, anything to put a smile on a sick child's face. >>> i just bought one of

my grandsons a sign that said, "boys are just super heros in disguise." and i thought, super heros could be just nurses in disguise. >> andrew: and the families are so grateful for such a wonderful,

wonderful guys. >>> and there are super hero window washers as well. as parents and patients opened the drapes at morgan hospital, they received a surprise. window washers were

bringing patients three to six years old some encouragement. >> we took pictures with them. they hugged us and kissed we hugged and kissed them. it is wonderful. >> it is wonderful for the

families. it is wonderful for the kids. it gives them an escape from every day clinical care that can just be so hard on them. >> andrew: i could never be a window washer because

of the height factor, but that's an appealing side, to be able to bless the kids like that, which is a wonderful thing. >> terry: it really is. imagine their shock, to wake up in the morning and open your blinds, and

outside your window -- >> andrew: the hospital does this every year, and we congratulate them on their effort. >> terry: were you caped one caped crusader drives his bat mobile all year, and he talks to all children and

adults, and never hesitates to give encourage. he wants to keep his identity unknown. but his real name is not david, it's bruce. now he is on a mission to help the community.

recently he brightened the life of a 4-year-old, nolan day, who is battling >> it is very important for him just to feel good and not feel sick at that moment. because he had just had treatment the day before.

so he was feeling like he was normal and like a super hero. >> if i can do something like this to make people smile and laugh, take pictures and brighten their day, put some awareness on charity work,

that's what this is for. >> terry: how does somebody get a car made like that? >> andrew: interesting question. we're pleased to report, of course, that nolan's cancer is in remission.

>> terry: he is adorable. >> andrew: and it's a reminder that sometimes when we're around sick children, people don't know how to act, or what do i say -- have fun. we here at "700 club

interactive" wanted to bring hope to a local family. while most kids can go outside and play, madelyne's childhood has been invaded by trips to the doctor for chemotherapy treatments.

she can't even enjoy trips to the public playground because of her weakened immune system. but that has all changed. take a look. >> reporter: every parent wants their child to be healthy and happy.

>> she loves to sing. she loves clothing. she loves going to the beach. she likes the beach -- she loves the beach. >> reporter: but when madelyne was a baby, michelle noticed something

wasn't right. >> it was like a switch went off and she stopped making eye contact and playing with other children. >> reporter: they discovered madelyne had autism.

>> and to barely go out in public -- something would set her off and she would scream all day. no one could help her. it was horrible. each day, she could wake up happy or it could be a horrible day.

so it was tough to make plans. >> andrew: one day madelyne was running a high fever, so michelle took her to the hospital. and doctors discovered madelyne also had non-hodgkins lymphoma,

>> looking back, we were in shock. you never think your child is going to have carve. wcancer. we thought maybe pneumonia. >> she doesn't deserve to be sick because she is,

like, autistic and stuff. i just really want her to feel better. >> andrew: michelle and her husband, rocky, try to stay positive despite the challenges. >> it changes your life it is very challenging.

he works long hours, and, of course, we both want to be there 24/7. and trying to keep up with another child in the process, is very challenging on your relationship. >> reporter>> andrew: the weeks

when madelyne has chemotherapy are the hardest. >> it is heartbreaking we cannot send her to school, when my son goes and the rest of the other kids. she will be home-bound until, hopefully she is

cancer-free. >> andrew: even on days when she is up to it, madelyne can't enjoy the public park because it could be dangerous. >> we don't like to leave far from home because it >> andrew: what she

needed was a swingset of her hone. >> our foundation deals with children who are dealing with pediatric kids one through eight, we put a custom swingset in their backyard, and eight to 18, we refurnish their

bedrooms. >> when a child is diagnosed with pediatric cancer, one of the first things that is stripped from that is the ability to play. where they should be dreaming and thinking

about pirate ships and playgrounds, and now everything is replaced with hospital visits, and chemos that make you so sick you can't stand it. for us, what we're able to do is we bring play back into the equation.

>> andrew: eric has a personal connection to his work. >> i'm a childhood cancer survivor. when i was 3 years old, i had a very rare liver i want them to look at me, look at the foundation,

and truly understand that anything is possible. it gives me the opportunity to be like jesus in doe in disguise. i pray before every single meeting that i get to meet with the families. i pray they don't see me,

but feel the love of jesus. and with that, they ask why i do what i do, and that gives me the opportunity to share the love of jesus, and for me to be at ground zero at some of the worst times in

these people's lives. >> i just think it would be nice to have somebody right here at home that i know she loves to do. she loves to swing. i just think it is going to be great. >> andrew: "700 club

help, too, so we picked up our tools and joined in the build. "700 club interactive" loves to go out into the community and try to bless people. and so "interactive" and "rock solid" pattere partnered to

build her a beautiful swingset. >> just getting the opportunity to partner with them is so incredible. and we get to do something for a child who really deserves it.

* >> andrew: in just a few hours, the playground was done. and it was time for the grand reveal. we didn't want to overwhelm madelyne, so we did sign language.

>> cancer cannot reduce eternal life. cancer cannot shut out memories. cancer cannot cripple love. and most of all, cancer cannot shatter hope. >> thank you so much.

[applause] interactive" and "rock solid." joining together to bring hope to a family. >>> it was certainly our privilege and pleasure to help madelyne's family. check out their website,

rocksolidfoundation.org. >> terry: and that was a steamer day -- it was very, very hot, but how exciting. it was thrilling for everybody when she walked around the corner, and it was silent as people

clapped silently. >> andrew: and normally there is rousing applause, but for her sake, we were quiet. >> terry: let's pray for madelyne and her family. the bible says, where two or more are gathered in my

name, there are i' i am in the midst of them. father, we just want to ask you to wrap your loving arms around this even as all of the volunteers showed up and this swingset was built, god, what they really need

is strength and encouragement and hope. thank you for "rock solid," and thank you for the vision of someone who came out of their own pain and hurt to help others. we want to pray for madelyne.

father, you have fear fully and wonderfully made every one of us. god, would you just connect all things well for her. we we ask for healing for her, and we ask for hope, that you would stren them strengthen

them and encourage them. and for her little brother. god, this family is such a testimony to people around now would you, god, in the way that only you can, pour out your holy spirit upon them and bring life

and hope and healing and joy. in jesus' name we pray. >> andrew: and, terry, if i may, father, we know that there are so many watching, parents of children with cancer, family members, where

people in their family have cancer, friends, people watching who have cancer, now, father god, and they cry out and say i'm exhausted by this condition. emotionally i'm drained, physically i'm drained, i

can't even pray anymore. so terry and i and our entire "700 club interactive" team pray now for these people in jesus' name. father god, for those watching that have cancer, we rebuke that condition.

we rebuke cancer in jesus' we pray, lord god, your holy spirit is active and moving and provides encouragement and physical strength and he emotional strength. and we pray for healing. and for those parents of

father god, we pray your sweet holy spirit ministers to moms and dads as they cope with this situation, father god. you are a god of love and mercy and grace and healing. lord god, reveal that.

and we pray for those exhausted by this condition, father god, that you revitalize them with the power of your holy spirit, giving them hope. in the name of jesus, we pray.

>> terry: amen. amen. we want you to know that you can be a part of the work that is done here at cbn. it is happening all around the world, in neighborhoods like you

just saw, right here in the united states, where there is need, and in areas of poverty around the world. join "the 700 club," and it makes you a partner in all of these things. our number is toll-free:

1-800-700-7000. just call and say, i want to join. it is 65 cents a day, $20 a month, makes you a "700 club" member. >>> coming up, a cbn news exclusive. watch miracles unfold deep

in the heart of the jungle. >> we heard christ died for us, and that changed our lives. >> terry: george thomas heads into the pygmy colonies of uganda. you don't want to miss

this. it is coming up next. >> terry: for centuries, they lived in caves and trees while hunting in the a remote african tribe called the batwa pygmies, about 25 years ago the ug ugandan government forced

them out of the forest, leaving them homeless and destitude. george thomas has the remarkable story from southwestern uganda. >> george: you're about to see images never captured on camera.

until now. from deep in the lush green jungles of africa africa...comes the story of one of this continent's oldest-living tribes. >> we used to live like animals in the jungle. >> george: this woman is

a batwa pygmy. for centuries, her people were rainforest dwellers. >> we smoked and drank and performed witchcraft. we were devil worshippers. >> george: dr. kellerman is studying the batwa >> they are only four feet

in height. they hunted with nets, and collect fruits from the trees or roots from the ground. >> george: their life revolved around the windy forest of southwestern uganda.

>> they had no stone instruments, so that's why very few records are found of the batwa. >> george: the batwas were found as keepers of the forest, but that dramatically changed when the government here in the

city of kampala decided to turn their habitat into a national park and a world heritage site for endangered mountain gorillas. there are about 750 mountain gorillas in the world, and 350 live within

the biwindi forest. >> it was made a world heritage site, and the batwa were evicted from the forest. >> george: after centuries of living in caves and trees, they became conservation

refugees. with no title to land, no food, no clothing, no shelter. thousands of them walked out of the jungle to a world that turned against >> the people could not do anything -- they thought

maybe these batwa, the pygmies, were like animals. >> george: this man and his wife, barbara, decided to help some of the batwa. they moved to the small village of guessora to begin a ministry among the

pygmies. >> i began by preaching the message of hope. >> george: hundreds of batwa pygmies heard about jesus for the very first time. she was one of gerald's first converts.

>> it was the first time anyone had ever told us about jesus. we were summoned of the devil, but they weren't heard christ died for our sins, and that changed our lives. [singing]

>> george: on this day... >> i baptize you in the name of the father, the son, and the holy spirit. >> george: ...37 responded to the gospel message and got baptized in a river.

>> george: gerald says miracles are also happening among the batwa. people diagnosed with hiv/aids are getting healed. a pygmy girl on the virge of death, given new life. >> she was dead, almost.

they started praying for her. they prayed and prayed -- they actually prayed for five hours. i couldn't believe it. and god healed her. >> george: it all led to >> hallelujah!

>> george: the first ever batwa pygmy church in the region. >> we get up to 1,000 pygmies who come to attend the church. >> george: and they also run a school for pygmy and parents, once animal

hunters, are learning to be farmers. but the needs here are enormous. >> if you can imagine poverty, which exists everywhere in the world, yet these are the poorest of the poor.

>> george: after making several trips out here, tito kahush, a document producer and regent university graduate, decided to get involved. he got a hold of some churches to partner with ba wbatwa christians.

>> what i like about this ministry is run by the bat batwas themselves. they are run by their own board, but we want to empower them. >> george: it is estimated there are still tens of thousands of batwa

who have yet to hear the name of jesus christ. >> just as christ did for me, i believe his message of salvation is going to change the lives of my tribe. >> george: in the meantime, gerald welcomes

christians from around the world to join him in the adventure of reaching one of the most unreached people groups in the world. >> we need people to stand with us in prayers. we want to reach as many

pygmies as possible. >> george: george thomas, cbn news, uganda. >> terry: it's like getting to peak into a secret area of the world that no one has seen before. it is pretty awesome.

i think of the prophecy that all will come to hear the message. and then the end will come. and we've been praying for decades for jesus to come. and more and more and more we see the expansion of

the gospel into remote areas like this. >> andrew: and it has really opened our eyes that sometimes we have a narrow view of christianity and who are believers. and so see our brothers

and sisters in christ over there, and i was really struck by the joy in their hearts that they can't even contain. >> terry: yes. happiness they have found in the lord jesus christ. it is inspiring.

>> terry: made me want a handkerchief. >> andrew: a beautiful story. >>> still to come, an 11-year-old boy who lost everything during a typhoon struggles with fear.

>> after the typhoon, i had nightmares. in my dreams, i would get washed away, and my family couldn't find me. >> andrew: we'll see how he went from fearful to fearless, right after >> andrew: after a

typhoon destroyed his home in the philippines, dameal was traumatized. his nights were filled with fear, and during the day, he mourned the loss of his home, his friends, and all of his belongings. then he saw an episode of

"superbook" that gave him courage and hope for the future. >> reporter: dameal's family survived a killer typhoon who struck the philippines. >> the winds from the typhoon were huge.

i was so scared. i thought we were going to die. >> reporter: they lost everything, except for a few surfboards from a family rental business. relief supplies never came, so they escaped by

bus to live with relatives in manila. there dameal struggled with fear and loss. >> i lost all of my thing, and i lost all of my friends. after the typhoon, i had nightmares.

>> reporter: and he wrestled with a growing emptiness in his life, too. that's when dameal started watching cbn's "superbook." he connected with the story of job.

>> when we got to the story of job, i saw myself in the story. he lost all of his possessions and children. "superbook" told me, god is with us and he will take care of us. >> reporter: after

watching, dameaeal prayed with his mother to become a christian. >> jesus is my true friend. he is always there for me. >> reporter: he also started praying that god would restore what they

lost. shortly after that, his mom got a new job, and then his dad restarted the family business and is building them a new home. they hope to move there soon. >> i thank him for

everything he has given our family. >> andrew: i'm especially touched watching dameal's story, and i have an 11-year-old boy, and to think of him going through that type of tragedy is heartbreaking.

it is interesting as adults, we may not see how the word of god are going to register with children. will they understand it? the answer is clearly yes. "superbook," these bible stories that come to life truly made a difference in

the alert of this young boy. it gave him hope and encouragement in such tragic circumstances, and it gave the power of the holy spirit a chance to work in his life and his family's life.

we thank you if you're a "700 club" member because you made that possible. if you're not, you can get on board very easily. all you have to do is dial or log on to 700clubinteractive.com, and say i'd like to be a

"700 club" partner. it is just $20 a month, 65 cents a day. and, terry, we're seeing god do amazing things through our partners. >> terry: obviously. this boy was so moved by the story of job.

you wouldn't just pick that out of the air. the word of god resonates, when we hear it, when we speak it, and when we read it. >> andrew: and i've spontaneouspoken believers who say i don't want to read the

but that's not the mindset we have. >>> we leave you today with john 10: "the thief's purpose is to steal and to kill and to destroy. my purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life."

>>> thank you for joining us today. for terry meeuwsen, i'm andrew knox, and we'll see you next time on "700 club