Vault: He Diagnosed with cancer and was surprised for the holidays

Summary

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The Bert Show | Vault: He Diagnosed with Cancer and Was Surprised for the Holidays

Release Date: May 26, 2026

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Episode Overview

This emotional holiday episode of The Bert Show revolves around the show’s annual “pay it forward” tradition in partnership with Georgia’s Own Credit Union and the Chipper Jones Family Foundation. The hosts invite listeners to nominate deserving families or individuals who are struggling during the holiday season, and surprise them with support. On this occasion, listener Laura Lee nominates her friend Randy, a single father recently diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer, who faces financial and emotional struggles during what may be his last Christmas with his 14-year-old son.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Purpose of “Pay It Forward” ([01:25]–[02:31])

• The Bert Show describes their ongoing tradition of helping community members during the holidays, supported by listener nominations and local charities.
  • “We have done something similar to pay it forward for years now where this time of year you guys send us your emails and then we pass them on…” – Host ([01:25])
• Acknowledgement of increased need this year due to economic downturn and recent natural disasters.

Randy’s Story: Nominated by Laura Lee ([02:31]–[07:13])

• Laura Lee, a long-time friend, describes Randy’s background:
  • Their sons have played baseball together since age five.
  • Randy is actively involved in the community and local baseball board.
• Randy’s situation:
  • Diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer; doctors have given a prognosis of six months with treatment ([03:01]).
  • Single parent, self-employed as a real estate appraiser with no insurance or employment benefits.
  • Financial struggle: “He has nothing.” ([04:10])
  • Facing a Christmas with minimal resources for his son, who asked primarily for a laptop ([04:43]).
  • Laura Lee highlights Randy’s reluctance to accept help and desire for privacy ([05:15]).

Community and Emotional Impact ([06:23]–[07:13])

• Laura Lee acknowledges how the community wants to help but often feels at a loss.
  • “There’s just never enough that can be done in a situation like that. It’s not always the monetary things that mean stuff.” – Laura Lee ([06:54])
• The hosts praise Laura Lee’s compassion and encourage listeners to follow her example.
  • “That’s really cool that you… motivate everybody around him and really rally around, because that’s the meaning of community.” – Co-Host ([06:40])

Attempting to Call Randy ([07:13]–[08:21])

• Light-hearted banter as the show tries to navigate phone privacy codes to reach Randy, demonstrating their playful, authentic tone.

The Surprise for Randy ([08:21]–[10:43])

• The hosts connect with Randy on-air, briefly describe the situation, and share Laura Lee’s nomination:
  • “We know that he’s looking for a couple of items, and then we’ll hook him up.” – Host ([06:16])
• The show presents Randy with $2,000 from the sponsoring organizations to help him and his son have a special Christmas ([09:34]).
• Randy acknowledges the impact, expressing gratitude but remaining understated:
  • “That’s incredible.” – Randy ([09:36])
  • “That’s awesome, man.” – Randy ([09:47])
  • When asked if he’s relieved: “Yes, it is.” – Randy ([10:42])
• Hosts encourage Randy to use the funds for whatever is meaningful, especially for his son ([10:33]).

Community Recognition and Gratitude ([10:58]–[11:19])

• The Bert Show and its partners thank Laura Lee for stepping up:
  • “Because it’s people like you…that let us know what’s going on…allows us to pass it on.” – Co-Host ([10:58])
  • “We’d remind you to pay it forward, but your name’s Laura Lee, so that’s, like, in your DNA.” – Producer/Assistant ([11:11])

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “This will be his last Christmas with his son unless God intercedes and, you know, and he’s healed and things. But he is a single parent, so that just makes it extra hard.”
  – Laura Lee ([03:01])
• “He didn’t want anybody to know. He was in the hospital for a week and a half before he would even tell anybody.”
  – Laura Lee ([05:16])
• “There’s just never enough that can be done in a situation like that. It’s not always the monetary things that mean stuff.”
  – Laura Lee ([06:54])
• “These guys want to give you $2,000 to help you out.”
  – Host ([09:34])
• “That’s awesome, man.”
  – Randy ([09:47])
• “You really, really, really want to do something special…don’t put a governor on the stuff that you’re thinking about getting him this Christmas, because these guys really want to help you out.”
  – Host ([10:20])
• “Thank you, Laura Lee, because it’s people like you…that allows us to pass it on…”
  – Co-Host ([10:58])
• “We’re not really going to ask him to pay it forward. He just take the cash and do with it what you want, man.”
  – Host ([11:19])

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Important Timestamps

• 01:25 – Introduction of “pay it forward” tradition and this year’s context
• 02:31 – Laura Lee shares Randy’s story
• 03:01 – Randy’s cancer diagnosis and single parent status revealed
• 04:10 – Randy’s employment/insurance challenges detailed
• 05:15 – Explaining Randy’s reluctance to ask for help
• 06:54 – Community’s willingness to help and limitations
• 08:21 – Connecting with Randy live on air
• 09:34 – Announcement of the $2,000 gift for Randy’s family
• 10:42 – Randy affirms his relief
• 10:58 – Bert Show and partners thank Laura Lee

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Tone and Takeaways

The episode is heartfelt, candid, and supportive, balancing the show’s usual humor with genuine empathy. The Bert Show team and listeners demonstrate the true spirit of community, making a profound difference for Randy and his son during a very difficult holiday season. Laura Lee’s compassion and initiative are highlighted as central to the story, representing the impact any one individual can have.

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Transcript

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[Host (Birch Show)]

play social casino void where prohibited. Visit spinquest.com for more details. This is the Birch Show. We have done something similar to pay it forward for years now where this time of year you guys send us your emails and then we pass them on to George's own credit union, the Chipper Jones Family Foundation. And we help as many families as we can and we receive a whole bunch of emails every year. This year though, the amount of emails we received has been crazy. I think with the recession and you gotta remember, man, I know it's not even in the paper anymore. The floods knocked out so many families, so many jobs and stuff like that. Well, today this one doesn't have to do with the floods, but we say, you know, if you know somebody that is in your neighborhood or it's a family friend or somebody, you know, that's, that's hurting this time of year. Just tell us about them.

[Co-Host]

Yeah, go to the website and email us their story. Tell us what's been going on in their life. And we want to pair up with the Shepherd Jones family Foundation, also Georgia's own credit union, and really take care of them this holiday season, give them the help that they need. But we can't do that unless you tell us about them. So you can email payetteforward100atlanta.com or just right through the website.

[Host (Birch Show)]

Lauralee emailed us. Hey, Laura Lee.

[Laura Lee]

Hey, Bert show. How are y'? All?

[Host (Birch Show)]

Good. How are you today?

[Laura Lee]

I'm great.

[Host (Birch Show)]

All right. How do you know Randy?

[Laura Lee]

Our sons have been playing baseball together since they were five years old and they are now 14.

[Host (Birch Show)]

Okay.

[Laura Lee]

Randy got involved with the Akwith baseball board and I was on the board with him for a few years and we've just continued to remain friends.

[Host (Birch Show)]

And what else can you tell us about Randy? Like, why did you send this email this year?

[Laura Lee]

Well, a few weeks ago, Randy was taken to the hospital and he was diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer. And they have given him, you know, six months with chemo. So this will be his last Christmas with his son unless God intercedes and, you know, and he's healed and things. But he is a single parent,

[Randy]

so

[Laura Lee]

that just makes it extra hard.

[Host (Birch Show)]

I know there are a whole bunch of different levels to this. Have they discussed, do you know if they've discussed the future of the 14 year old?

[Laura Lee]

They. Not that I know of. Those are some choices that he's having to make, you know, and, you know, it's just really hard and, you know, I don't want to go in and step in and, you know, say, take care of this.

[Host (Birch Show)]

And how's the 14 year old handling everything?

[Laura Lee]

You know, I don't know that he knows that he's really sick, but I don't know if he knows all the details.

[Host (Birch Show)]

And is he unemployed?

[Laura Lee]

Well, he used to have a job. He was like a manager at a dealership in the service station. But five or six years ago he quit his job just because he was taking so much time away from his child. So he became a real estate appraiser. So it'd been kind of slow for him anyway. So being self employed, he, you know, he has no insurance, you know, no benefit. He has nothing.

[Host (Birch Show)]

Has he verbally told you that? You know, he's looking at Christmas this year and 14 year old is probably going to have a lot less than he's had in past years.

[Laura Lee]

Yes. And, you know, and he's like, you know, I've got just a little bit, you know, left. And, you know, he wants a laptop. And, you know, I want to try to do what I can for him this year. And, you know, it's just, you know, we're. The community's trying to help in and do what they can, but we're trying to, you know, give him his shots every day because he's become diabetic and, you know, get meals for him and try to pay his household expenses. So, you know, that's not priority on the list.

[Co-Host]

And is Randy somebody who is afraid to ask for help for himself?

[Randy]

Yes.

[Laura Lee]

You know, he. He didn't want anybody to know. He was in the hospital for a week and a half before he would even tell anybody. So, you know, it's been, you know. Yeah. Real change in him to even let people come over and bring him food.

[Host (Birch Show)]

Really?

[Laura Lee]

Yeah.

[Host (Birch Show)]

And we got to keep in mind this entire call that this is probably gonna be his last Christmas with his son, too. Does he have any idea that you emailed us?

[Laura Lee]

No, he has no clue.

[Host (Birch Show)]

Okay. If he's that private, will he respond okay if we call him, or should we just tell you what's going on and then you can pass it on to him?

[Laura Lee]

No, he should be okay. He was adopted when he was little, and so his adopted family is now here in Atlanta. They just came in yesterday, so they're supposed to answer the call this morning so he can talk to you all.

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Okay.

[Laura Lee]

You know, I know that he should be able to get it. Be on the phone. I don't know how much detail he's going to give you all.

[Host (Birch Show)]

And we won't even ask him for it. We'll just tell him that you emailed us, and we know that he's looking for a couple of items, and then we'll hook him up.

[Laura Lee]

Okay.

[Co-Host]

Is your son and his son still close friends?

[Laura Lee]

They go to different schools, so they're not close like they used to be unless they play. Like last year, we were on the same basketball team, so we saw each other quite a bit, you know, but this year are not on any teams or anything together, so it's just sporadic when we see each other.

[Co-Host]

Well, Laura Lee, I think it's really cool that you heard about this news and that you're taking it upon yourself to sort of motivate everybody around him and really rally around, because I just really feel like that's like the meaning of a community. It's the definition of coming together.

[Laura Lee]

But I mean, everybody knows him and everybody's wanting to help do stuff. It's just nobody knows what to do. And there's just never enough that can be done in a situation like that. It's not always the monetary things that mean stuff. And you know, and it's just the perfect time of year for everybody to realize that Laura Lee is the kind of.

[Host (Birch Show)]

Laura Lee is the kind of. That's the name, the name of the neighbor that's always helping everybody. Laura Lee will help out. You need something organized, you go to Laura Lee. Yeah, she'll help out. All right, let's. Let's give Randy a call here and see if we can make things a little bit easier for him here.

[Laura Lee]

Okay.

[Host (Birch Show)]

Who should I ask for?

[Laura Lee]

Randy, just ask.

[Host (Birch Show)]

Right.

[Laura Lee]

First party has privacy, Director and does

[Randy]

not accept

[Producer/Assistant]

Star 82.

[Host (Birch Show)]

Star 86 or Star 79.

[Producer/Assistant]

Oh, dude, why'd you say that?

[Host (Birch Show)]

But then they can star a two. Your star.

[Producer/Assistant]

Is it star a two.

[Laura Lee]

Star 69. Thank you,

[Host (Birch Show)]

mature little maturity people. I didn't say anything. I just smiled.

[Producer/Assistant]

That's star 69.

[Host (Birch Show)]

Star 82 is star 67.

[Laura Lee]

No, it's 826 7.

[Host (Birch Show)]

82.

[Laura Lee]

678 2.

[Host (Birch Show)]

What was it?

[Producer/Assistant]

It's calling from an unblocked line.

[Laura Lee]

That makes sense.

[Producer/Assistant]

Yeah, y' all are too. Too many numbers.

[Randy]

Hello?

[Host (Birch Show)]

Hi, is Randy around, please? Hey, Randy, this is the Burt show and we are on the radio right now at Q100 and we have your friend Laura Lee on with us.

[Laura Lee]

Hey, Randy.

[Host (Birch Show)]

Hey, how you doing, Randy?

[Randy]

I'm alright.

[Laura Lee]

What's happening?

[Host (Birch Show)]

Hey, man, Laura Lee emailed us a couple of days ago and she told us you got some bad news, you're going through some tough times right now and Christmas is right around the corner. And she said that your 14 year old could use a couple of items for Christmas that you weren't sure you were going to be able to provide.

[Randy]

Okay.

[Host (Birch Show)]

That sound about accurate?

[Randy]

Yeah.

[Host (Birch Show)]

Okay.

[Randy]

Could be.

[Host (Birch Show)]

I don't want to pry too much, but she's sort of given us a little bit of the history here. And she said that, you know, she's known you for years now, you're about the most awesome guy she's ever met and she's just looking to get you a little break this holiday season.

[Randy]

Okay.

[Host (Birch Show)]

So the good news here is that we've got some really great friends here at Georgia's Own and the Chipper Jones Family foundation and they want to hook you guys Up. They want to hook you and your son Logan up this holiday season.

[Randy]

Okay.

[Host (Birch Show)]

So if you're having any stresses with him. I know, like, a laptop computer might have been on that list.

[Randy]

Yeah.

[Host (Birch Show)]

These guys want to give you $2,000 to help you out.

[Randy]

Oh, my gosh. Okay. That's incredible.

[Host (Birch Show)]

She said that this is going to be a pretty special Christmas between the two of you guys, and we wanted to make it more special.

[Randy]

That's awesome, man.

[Host (Birch Show)]

Okay, so has he told you anything else that he wanted for Christmas?

[Randy]

Well, he wanted some video games and some clothes and the laptop or something. Actually, I wasn't sure if he was getting or not, but it was. He wanted a golf cart or something, too. I told him he can get that.

[Host (Birch Show)]

It's an ambitious wish list, but we can accommodate a lot of that. That's 14. Look, and they're. They're pretty liberal with their cash also, so if you guys need a little bit more than that, you really, really, really want to do something special, you know, don't put a governor on the stuff that you're thinking about getting him this Christmas, because these guys really want to help you out.

[Randy]

You're amazing. Laura Lee, thanks.

[Laura Lee]

Oh, no problem. Randy,

[Host (Birch Show)]

is that a tremendous relief for you?

[Randy]

Yes, it is.

[Host (Birch Show)]

Good, man. Well, as I said, anything that you want, he's going to be taken care of. So it's going to be one of the most special Christmases you guys ever had. Okay?

[Randy]

Okay.

[Host (Birch Show)]

All right.

[Co-Host]

Merry Christmas.

[Randy]

Thank you.

[Host (Birch Show)]

All right, Randy.

[Laura Lee]

Bye bye.

[Host (Birch Show)]

Bye bye.

[Laura Lee]

Merry Christmas. Thanks, guys.

[Host (Birch Show)]

You are welcome. You are? Really?

[Laura Lee]

Really.

[Co-Host]

Yeah. Thank you, Laura Lee, because it's people like you to let us know what's going on and let us know about the people in your community you care about allows us to pass it on to Georgia's own and also Chipper Jones Family Foundation. So without you, it wouldn't have happened.

[Producer/Assistant]

And we'd remind you to pay it forward, but your name's Laura Lee, so that's, like, in your DNA. You have to pay it forward.

[Host (Birch Show)]

We gave Randy a little bit of a break there. We're not really going to ask him to pay it forward. He just take the cash and do with it what you want, man. Don't think of anything else right now. This is the Birch Show.

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[Host (Birch Show)]

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