Jenny Long - Expect a Miracle: A Mothers Tale of Brotherly Love, Faith and the Race That Changed a Familys Life

DEDICATION

This book is dedicated to my boys. Youre the best choices I ever made, and I love you more than anything. I will always be there for you. Someday, when you cant see me or feel my presence, know that I am beating in your hearts and blowing in the wind around you.

I also want to thank my dad: For giving me your best, no matter what. My mom: For 12 amazing years of love. I hope I am half the mother you were to me. All my friends and extended family: For supporting me when the times got roughthank you for sticking by me and believing in me. And to my best friend (you know who you are): Thank you for accepting the whole package. Its not baggageits luggage, right?

Finally, to all the moms in the special club: Hats off to each and every one of you, for all you do for the ones you love. The journey is unexpected, but so worth the effort.

Jenny Long, spring 2015

To Liz: For your love and for trusting me with your heart. To James and Connor: You make me proud every day. To Mom and Dad: For a lifetime of encouragement and support. To Nancy and Peter: Without you, I wouldnt have Liz. And to my beloved uncle, James Joseph McCarty, who always wanted to be a writer.

Bob Der, spring 2015

contents

FOREWORD

By LeBron James

From the moment I first heard the Long familys story, it touched me in a profound way. It was at the 2012 Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year ceremony, and I was there to accept the honor. But it wasnt me who deserved that distinctionit was Conner and Cayden Long.

To see the way Conner cares for his younger brother and the sacrifices he makes to bring him happiness left me speechless that night, and to this day Im still at a loss for words when trying to describe what a true inspiration this family is to myself, my family and countless others.

In a word, the Long brothers are unbelievable. The fact that Conner competes in triathlons while bringing his younger brother along with him is unbelievable. And the way Cayden never loses hope, despite facing more obstacles than most of us will ever know, is unbelievable. Their strength, their passion for life and their dedication to each other are things we could all use a little more of in our lives.

As a father, youre always looking for ways to teach your kids certain lessons in life. I have to give Conner and Cayden a lot of credit for helping me show my kids how they should support and look out for each other. As Conner said that night at the Sports Illustrated ceremony, when they stick together, we can always do anything, and I truly believe they will accomplish amazing things in life. They already have, even if at their young ages they dont realize it.

Conner and the entire Long family have left a lasting impression on me, and their story continues to be an inspiration for me in everything I do. They show us all what it means to persevere in the face of adversity. They are the real heroes.

preface

THE FINISH LINE

I JUST WANT to see their faces.

Im standing with hundreds of cheering parents in Nashvilles Centennial Park waiting for my boys, Conner and Cayden, to come running into view just before they cross the finish line of their first triathlon.

I dont have any idea where they are in the park, but when I close my eyes I picture Conner, his cheeks red and his blond hair matted with sweat, smiling and waving to the hundreds of people who line the racecourse. I see Cayden too, with his eyes closed feeling the breeze across his cheeks as he sits in that low, blue running stroller, being pushed by Conner. I imagine him clapping as he does when hes really happy, and I know hes happy now as he glides along, cheered by everyone who sees him and his brother pass.

Look, those parents are saying to their children, look at what one brother can do for another. Thats what family is all about.

Two weeks ago we had never even watched a triathlon, let alone thought about entering one. But when Conner heard about a sport where you biked, swam and ran all in one race, he wanted to do it, and he wanted to bring his brother Cayden along for the ride.

Conner is just 7 years old. Hes never run or biked in a race. The only swimming stroke he knows is the dog paddle. Cayden is 5, still tiny and frail on account of his cerebral palsy.

To outsiders, Cayden can seem like hes lost in the universe, his hands drifting back and forth in front of his torso as if hes reaching for something he cant find. His head moves to its own rhythm, and he never seems to be looking at anyone or anything in particular. But when Conner talks, Cayden listens. He lifts his head and looks Conner right in the eyes. Even though Cayden cannot speak in words, I know he speaks to Conner.

Other brothers ride their bikes down to the creek, race across the tall summer grass to see whos the fastest, and stay up late trading secrets and jokes by the glow of flashlights. Cayden and Conner cant do any of that, yet Cayden is the reason Conner entered this triathlon in the first place. He wanted to find a way to do something with his brother, something just for them.

To do this together, though, Conner would have to carry Cayden every step of the way, pulling him in a raft as he swam, wheeling him in a trailer attached to his bike and, finally, pushing him in a stroller over the finish line. To me, it seemed impossible! More than four miles of swimming, biking and running, all back-to-back-to-back, through heat, exhaustion, hills and valleys. But Conner just locked in and kept on going. Thats what hes doing right now somewhere on that racecourse: He and his brother are finding their way to the finish.

Kids of all ages and sizes are sprinting by me. A race announcer is calling them all home.

Way to go! he says in a booming voice. Here she comes!

These kids are awesome. Their parents are beaming, giving out hugs and high fives. All I see is joy. But my boys havent finished yet.

Relax. Breathe. Theyre fine out there. Theyre going to be fine.

The park is beautiful. Clear sky. Warm and humid, the way Nashville gets in early June. I could make you a mile-long list of reasons why my family and I shouldnt even be here standing among these people with their fancy race gear and their high-tech bikes. Some of these kids have been training for this event for years, and mine started just last week. Me and my husband Jeff dont fit in with these fine, upstanding people. Can they tell we feel uncomfortable and out of place? There are television crews and newspaper photographers standing with me here at the finish, waiting to capture the moment when the boys cross. They tell me our story is an inspiration. I wonder how theyd feel if they knew the whole story.

More kids pass me by. More waiting. Didnt I see that little girl start the run after the boys? Where are they? Are they going to make it?

Wait. Now I think I see them. Yes, there they are, I see them breaking through the trees down 25th Avenue. Thats Conner. His eyes just clear the push bar of the jogging stroller. Hes grinning and whooping. Cayden is smiling, too, and clapping. Im crying. I see Jeff now. Hes back by my side, and his eyes are rimmed red. Hes so proud.

Conner looks like hes getting stronger, pushing that stroller the last few steps.

Look at this! the announcer screams. This is incredible!

My boys are going to make it. Theyre going to cross that line. When the day started, the only cheering section they had was me, Jeff and a few friends from our congregation back home. Now hundreds of people are cheering for them. Its loud. The love is overpowering. Cayden looks so happy. Conner carried his brother through this race, but Cayden is the one who pushed his brother to reach the end.