1 00:00:38,001 --> 00:00:41,440 Speaker 1: Hey friends, it's Kelly from Life Audio. We just launched 2 00:00:41,501 --> 00:00:45,181 Speaker 1: something new. It's called The Good Word, our free weekly 3 00:00:45,241 --> 00:00:48,120 Speaker 1: newsletter built for people who want to go a little 4 00:00:48,161 --> 00:00:54,011 Speaker 1: deeper in their faith. Think devotionals, guided prayers, curated podcast recommendations, 5 00:00:54,191 --> 00:00:57,311 Speaker 1: and a little community all in one place. No ads, 6 00:00:57,651 --> 00:01:00,091 Speaker 1: just good content. This one means a lot to us. 7 00:01:00,491 --> 00:01:03,271 Speaker 1: We built The Good Word based on the audience survey 8 00:01:03,491 --> 00:01:05,671 Speaker 1: so many of you filled out a few months back. 9 00:01:05,991 --> 00:01:08,571 Speaker 1: You told us what you wanted and we listened. So 10 00:01:08,611 --> 00:01:11,550 Speaker 1: thank you truly for helping us shape this. Head to 11 00:01:11,571 --> 00:01:14,170 Speaker 1: the link in the show notes and join our community today. 12 00:01:14,471 --> 00:01:19,941 Speaker 1: We'd love to have you. Life Audio. 13 00:01:21,580 --> 00:01:28,121 Speaker 2: This is Story Behind Inspiring Stories Positive Headlines from. 14 00:01:28,461 --> 00:01:33,381 Speaker 3: GodTube.com where you can watch without worry and LifeAudio.com where 15 00:01:33,441 --> 00:01:37,651 Speaker 3: you can find a whole lot of Christian podcast to 16 00:01:38,110 --> 00:01:40,091 Speaker 3: encourage you along your journey. 17 00:01:40,551 --> 00:01:45,491 Speaker 2: We are here to bring you the stories behind the 18 00:01:45,551 --> 00:01:48,711 Speaker 2: news that you may not know about. The kind of 19 00:01:48,751 --> 00:01:52,331 Speaker 2: things that, well, if you're my generation or older, you 20 00:01:52,351 --> 00:01:55,781 Speaker 2: might remember at the end of your local news, the 21 00:01:55,881 --> 00:01:58,861 Speaker 2: ones where we wanted to leave you with a happy 22 00:01:59,001 --> 00:02:04,741 Speaker 2: or positive story, something you could laugh or feel good about. And, 23 00:02:04,901 --> 00:02:07,661 Speaker 2: you know, just a little sharing a little something in 24 00:02:07,701 --> 00:02:11,081 Speaker 2: my own life. Doing these stories three times a week 25 00:02:11,321 --> 00:02:15,431 Speaker 2: for you has been good for my own mental state 26 00:02:15,571 --> 00:02:19,210 Speaker 2: and my own heart as I walk through some challenging 27 00:02:19,331 --> 00:02:21,711 Speaker 2: times of life. And that's been a little bit of 28 00:02:21,751 --> 00:02:25,231 Speaker 2: a surprise for me since I took over hosting duties 29 00:02:25,391 --> 00:02:29,240 Speaker 2: on Story Behind. I'm Sean McAvoy. I'm the executive director 30 00:02:29,430 --> 00:02:33,861 Speaker 2: of content here at the Salem Web Network. And today 31 00:02:33,881 --> 00:02:39,261 Speaker 2: I found a couple stories about the father-son relationship. I 32 00:02:39,300 --> 00:02:43,300 Speaker 2: don't know what your experiences have been like in your life, 33 00:02:43,501 --> 00:02:46,261 Speaker 2: but I have been very blessed to have had a 34 00:02:46,300 --> 00:02:49,261 Speaker 2: great relationship with my father, who's now with the Lord, 35 00:02:49,961 --> 00:02:53,240 Speaker 2: and with my own son, who is 23 years old 36 00:02:53,481 --> 00:02:57,101 Speaker 2: now and still living in the same hometown as me. 37 00:02:57,141 --> 00:02:59,291 Speaker 2: So I do get to see him every once in 38 00:02:59,331 --> 00:03:02,091 Speaker 2: a while. He'll still meet us for church on Sundays. 39 00:03:02,981 --> 00:03:06,240 Speaker 2: So that's special for me. So these stories are, I 40 00:03:06,281 --> 00:03:09,491 Speaker 2: hope they're as uplifting for you today as they are 41 00:03:09,571 --> 00:03:13,731 Speaker 2: for me and remind you of what that relationship is 42 00:03:14,111 --> 00:03:16,310 Speaker 2: supposed to look like. So we'll be back with those 43 00:03:16,391 --> 00:03:17,710 Speaker 2: for you in just a second. 44 00:03:25,561 --> 00:03:25,900 Speaker 1: All right. 45 00:03:25,941 --> 00:03:30,361 Speaker 2: Our first story today on Story Behind is from Michaela Gordodai. 46 00:03:32,050 --> 00:03:34,321 Speaker 2: This is about a father who donated part of his 47 00:03:34,401 --> 00:03:40,341 Speaker 2: liver after his son was diagnosed with a life-threatening genetic disorder. 48 00:03:42,241 --> 00:03:47,071 Speaker 2: A birthday is a celebration of life. And for one 49 00:03:47,161 --> 00:03:52,371 Speaker 2: New York family, it was that and more. Brian, a 50 00:03:52,431 --> 00:03:57,571 Speaker 2: father to one-year-old Benjamin, donated part of his liver to 51 00:03:57,631 --> 00:04:02,071 Speaker 2: save Benjamin's life. It just happened to be Brian's birthday. 52 00:04:04,071 --> 00:04:07,251 Speaker 2: Instead of one, the family got to celebrate two lives 53 00:04:07,531 --> 00:04:12,221 Speaker 2: that day. Days after Benjamin was born, he had to 54 00:04:12,231 --> 00:04:16,281 Speaker 2: be rushed to the PICU because his ammonia levels were 55 00:04:16,321 --> 00:04:20,801 Speaker 2: too high. The infant soon had to be put on dialysis. 56 00:04:22,041 --> 00:04:25,630 Speaker 2: His parents were completely shocked and saddened when he was 57 00:04:25,661 --> 00:04:34,731 Speaker 2: diagnosed with ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency. OTC, a rare metabolic disorder 58 00:04:34,931 --> 00:04:39,991 Speaker 2: that causes life-threatening spikes in ammonia. His parents were told 59 00:04:40,071 --> 00:04:43,471 Speaker 2: a crisis could happen at any moment in Benjamin's yub life. 60 00:04:44,941 --> 00:04:48,201 Speaker 2: In our minds, Benjamin felt like a ticking time bomb, 61 00:04:48,401 --> 00:04:52,640 Speaker 2: Bryant says. We became obsessed with learning everything we could 62 00:04:52,701 --> 00:04:58,591 Speaker 2: about OTC deficiency. They found out the only cure was 63 00:04:58,601 --> 00:05:03,101 Speaker 2: a liver transplant, but Benjamin would need to get bigger 64 00:05:03,281 --> 00:05:08,570 Speaker 2: in order to undergo an operation. Once Brian realized that 65 00:05:08,591 --> 00:05:11,130 Speaker 2: the best thing for his son was a living donor, 66 00:05:11,991 --> 00:05:16,671 Speaker 2: he knew he had to donate. The date of his 67 00:05:16,731 --> 00:05:22,791 Speaker 2: procedure fell on Brian's birthday, August 18th. At that time, 68 00:05:22,971 --> 00:05:25,601 Speaker 2: all I cared about was making sure Benjamin had the 69 00:05:25,661 --> 00:05:30,291 Speaker 2: best chance at a healthy life, he says. But when 70 00:05:30,351 --> 00:05:33,130 Speaker 2: we were told the date of the surgery, we were 71 00:05:33,171 --> 00:05:37,811 Speaker 2: shocked by the coincidence. It was so hard for Brian 72 00:05:37,831 --> 00:05:40,541 Speaker 2: to say goodbye to his son knowing that he'd have 73 00:05:40,661 --> 00:05:45,061 Speaker 2: a major operation before he went to get operated on himself. 74 00:05:46,701 --> 00:05:49,661 Speaker 2: He wanted to kiss his girlfriend Carla and Benjamin one 75 00:05:49,701 --> 00:05:54,131 Speaker 2: more time before he got wheeled away. But he felt 76 00:05:54,190 --> 00:05:58,501 Speaker 2: he didn't have enough emotional strength. So the last thing 77 00:05:58,541 --> 00:06:02,541 Speaker 2: he said before he went under anesthesia was a request 78 00:06:02,741 --> 00:06:05,630 Speaker 2: to the surgeon to take good care of his baby. 79 00:06:07,171 --> 00:06:08,711 Speaker 2: And the first thing he did when he woke up 80 00:06:08,791 --> 00:06:12,531 Speaker 2: was ask if his son was okay. And the next day, 81 00:06:13,571 --> 00:06:17,841 Speaker 2: Brian went to Benjamin's hospital room, where the surgeon helped 82 00:06:17,880 --> 00:06:22,341 Speaker 2: him hold his son's hand. And once he did, he 83 00:06:22,380 --> 00:06:26,591 Speaker 2: began to cry. Now he and his son are both 84 00:06:26,931 --> 00:06:31,701 Speaker 2: happy and healthy. Seeing his son smile lights up his day. 85 00:06:32,321 --> 00:06:36,781 Speaker 2: Brian knows he would do anything for his son, including 86 00:06:37,041 --> 00:06:41,661 Speaker 2: many more transplants if needed. When the couple thinks about 87 00:06:41,681 --> 00:06:45,791 Speaker 2: their journey, they went from tears of fear to tears 88 00:06:46,211 --> 00:06:52,781 Speaker 2: of happiness. Brian is an advocate for live donation. especially 89 00:06:52,841 --> 00:06:56,001 Speaker 2: since the success rates for these kinds of procedures are higher. 90 00:06:57,251 --> 00:07:01,111 Speaker 2: For anyone in the same situation, it's worth considering, he says. 91 00:07:03,051 --> 00:07:06,171 Speaker 2: It's incredible that Brian and Benjamin went through a journey 92 00:07:06,211 --> 00:07:11,251 Speaker 2: like this together. Little Benjamin will grow up knowing he 93 00:07:11,781 --> 00:07:18,201 Speaker 2: is deeply loved by his mommy and daddy. I'm reminded 94 00:07:18,321 --> 00:07:23,731 Speaker 2: of what Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 9, 6-9. Remember this, 95 00:07:24,951 --> 00:07:29,531 Speaker 2: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows 96 00:07:29,591 --> 00:07:34,461 Speaker 2: generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give 97 00:07:34,501 --> 00:07:37,001 Speaker 2: what you have decided in your heart to give, not 98 00:07:37,081 --> 00:07:41,041 Speaker 2: reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 99 00:07:42,481 --> 00:07:45,901 Speaker 2: And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that 100 00:07:46,001 --> 00:07:49,251 Speaker 2: in all things, at all times, having all that you need, 101 00:07:50,171 --> 00:07:54,001 Speaker 2: you will abound in every good work. As it is written, 102 00:07:54,861 --> 00:07:58,521 Speaker 2: they have freely scattered their gifts to the poor. Their 103 00:07:58,561 --> 00:08:04,021 Speaker 2: righteousness endures forever. We'll be back in just a moment 104 00:08:04,061 --> 00:08:08,631 Speaker 2: with our second father-son story of this episode of Story Behind. 105 00:08:17,311 --> 00:08:20,901 Speaker 2: All right, as we launch into our second story today, 106 00:08:20,921 --> 00:08:26,361 Speaker 2: I'm reminded that fathers and sons can bond over many things, sports, etc. 107 00:08:26,761 --> 00:08:31,111 Speaker 2: One of those is cars. And I remember the day 108 00:08:31,191 --> 00:08:33,971 Speaker 2: when I was six years old and my father came 109 00:08:34,050 --> 00:08:38,431 Speaker 2: home from work with a shiny new 1976 Triumph TR6 110 00:08:38,451 --> 00:08:46,451 Speaker 2: white convertible. And we kids climbed all over it in 111 00:08:46,481 --> 00:08:49,601 Speaker 2: the garage. We couldn't believe it. I looked up and 112 00:08:49,681 --> 00:08:52,651 Speaker 2: I saw the look on my mother's face and I 113 00:08:52,691 --> 00:08:56,771 Speaker 2: couldn't imagine why she wasn't as thrilled as the rest 114 00:08:56,810 --> 00:09:03,091 Speaker 2: of us seemed. Well, she hadn't been consulted. This was 1976. 115 00:09:03,091 --> 00:09:07,670 Speaker 2: And my dad made that decision without her. Well, I'm 116 00:09:07,711 --> 00:09:11,261 Speaker 2: reminded of that story. which I don't recommend doing, by 117 00:09:11,311 --> 00:09:13,951 Speaker 2: the way, because this story is about a father who 118 00:09:13,991 --> 00:09:18,411 Speaker 2: gave up his dream car for his family. And then 119 00:09:18,511 --> 00:09:22,851 Speaker 2: later on, his son pulled off the ultimate surprise. This 120 00:09:23,051 --> 00:09:27,091 Speaker 2: is by Heather Riggleman. This is the kind of story 121 00:09:27,530 --> 00:09:31,251 Speaker 2: you can't forget. Every once in a while, a story 122 00:09:31,291 --> 00:09:36,011 Speaker 2: slips past the headlines and settles somewhere much deeper. It 123 00:09:36,081 --> 00:09:39,701 Speaker 2: reminds you that love has a long memory and Our 124 00:09:39,761 --> 00:09:44,540 Speaker 2: kids see far more than we think they do. When 125 00:09:44,621 --> 00:09:48,930 Speaker 2: Daniel Allen returned home after serving multiple tours in Vietnam, 126 00:09:49,971 --> 00:09:53,410 Speaker 2: he bought the car he'd always dreamed of owning, a 127 00:09:53,451 --> 00:09:59,050 Speaker 2: white 1969 Mustang Mach 1. It carried him on dates 128 00:09:59,131 --> 00:10:02,631 Speaker 2: with the woman he would marry, Diana, and even onto 129 00:10:02,671 --> 00:10:05,841 Speaker 2: the ferry where he proposed. It was more than a 130 00:10:05,881 --> 00:10:10,951 Speaker 2: classic car. It was his prized possession. A tangible reminder 131 00:10:11,141 --> 00:10:13,790 Speaker 2: of a new season of freedom and hope after war. 132 00:10:15,491 --> 00:10:21,111 Speaker 2: But then life changed. Daniel and Diana welcomed six sons. 133 00:10:22,951 --> 00:10:25,511 Speaker 2: And the two-door Mustang no longer fit the family they 134 00:10:25,530 --> 00:10:29,491 Speaker 2: were building. So Daniel did what countless mothers and fathers 135 00:10:29,530 --> 00:10:34,141 Speaker 2: have done without fanfare. He let go of his most 136 00:10:34,241 --> 00:10:39,481 Speaker 2: treasured possession because his family meant more. He traded horsepower 137 00:10:39,841 --> 00:10:42,710 Speaker 2: and chrome for a car that could carry the people 138 00:10:42,761 --> 00:10:48,891 Speaker 2: he loved even more. His youngest son never forgot. Shane 139 00:10:48,991 --> 00:10:52,151 Speaker 2: Allen shared, My dad and I have talked about this 140 00:10:52,211 --> 00:10:58,221 Speaker 2: car since I was a kid. Years later, Shane found 141 00:10:58,381 --> 00:11:04,371 Speaker 2: a nearly identical 1969 Mustang Mach 1 without telling his father. 142 00:11:05,511 --> 00:11:09,131 Speaker 2: He traded his own restored Mustang to make the dream possible. 143 00:11:10,351 --> 00:11:15,901 Speaker 2: On Father's Day, Daniel admired the car, smiled, and jokingly asked, 144 00:11:15,921 --> 00:11:20,701 Speaker 2: Where's my keys? That's when Shane quietly placed them in 145 00:11:20,941 --> 00:11:25,861 Speaker 2: his father's hand. After the cameras stopped rolling, Shane said 146 00:11:25,881 --> 00:11:29,731 Speaker 2: to his father, stepped out of the car, realized what 147 00:11:29,771 --> 00:11:34,710 Speaker 2: his son had sacrificed to make this gift possible, and, quote, 148 00:11:35,030 --> 00:11:39,651 Speaker 2: broke down and hugged me. That's the part that undoes me. 149 00:11:41,051 --> 00:11:44,611 Speaker 2: This isn't really a story about a Mustang. It's about 150 00:11:44,651 --> 00:11:48,791 Speaker 2: the holy language of sacrifice. A father who quietly gave 151 00:11:48,871 --> 00:11:53,070 Speaker 2: up his dream because his children mattered more, and how 152 00:11:53,151 --> 00:11:58,131 Speaker 2: his son spent a lifetime remembering that. And years later, 153 00:11:58,201 --> 00:12:01,681 Speaker 2: love came full circle, returning what had been laid down 154 00:12:02,021 --> 00:12:06,901 Speaker 2: decades before. The sacrifices we make for our families are 155 00:12:06,941 --> 00:12:10,441 Speaker 2: rarely forgotten by God, even when they seem unnoticed by 156 00:12:10,481 --> 00:12:15,201 Speaker 2: the world. Sometimes, if we're blessed, they are remembered by 157 00:12:15,241 --> 00:12:19,940 Speaker 2: the very children we made them for. The greatest journeys 158 00:12:20,221 --> 00:12:24,461 Speaker 2: aren't measured in miles, but in what we're willing to 159 00:12:24,521 --> 00:12:31,651 Speaker 2: leave behind. I'm reminded of Ephesians 6, 2 and 3. 160 00:12:31,651 --> 00:12:35,071 Speaker 2: Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment 161 00:12:35,091 --> 00:12:38,451 Speaker 2: with a promise, so that it may go well with you, 162 00:12:39,111 --> 00:12:42,851 Speaker 2: and that you may enjoy long life on the earth. 163 00:12:47,731 --> 00:12:51,430 Speaker 2: Thanks for listening to the Story Behind podcast. I hope 164 00:12:51,471 --> 00:12:55,181 Speaker 2: today's stories about fathers and sons gave you some hope. 165 00:12:56,181 --> 00:13:00,001 Speaker 2: And maybe encouraged you to reach out and make some 166 00:13:00,071 --> 00:13:05,751 Speaker 2: reparations in your own relationships. God is still moving in 167 00:13:05,791 --> 00:13:10,391 Speaker 2: the world around us. Visit the links in the show 168 00:13:10,410 --> 00:13:14,180 Speaker 2: notes to find the original articles, photos, videos, and any 169 00:13:14,231 --> 00:13:18,561 Speaker 2: resources mentioned in today's episode on the God Updates blog 170 00:13:18,701 --> 00:13:23,481 Speaker 2: at GodTube.com. If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to 171 00:13:23,541 --> 00:13:26,801 Speaker 2: follow Story Behind wherever you listen to podcasts. and share 172 00:13:26,821 --> 00:13:30,061 Speaker 2: it with someone who could use a little encouragement. Story 173 00:13:30,101 --> 00:13:34,200 Speaker 2: Behind is a Life Audio production. For more faith-based podcasts, 174 00:13:34,280 --> 00:13:40,361 Speaker 2: visit lifeaudio.com. I'm Sean McAvoy. Thanks again for joining me, 175 00:13:40,521 --> 00:13:44,181 Speaker 2: and we'll see you next time on Story Behind.