WHAT'S OUR ROLE?

I called in an order to my favorite BBQ joint yesterday. Kind of spontaneous. Needed an option for dinner. I was tired at the end of my work day. Easy enough.

When I got to the restaurant, I found myself in the following conversation...what I can remember of it.

WAITRESS: I like your shirt. I love ruffles.
ME: Oh, thanks. I usually try to leave the ruffles to my 5 year old.
HER: I have a 5 year old as well. And a 3 year old. Both girls.
ME: Oh wow! My kids are same ages as yours. My 3 year old is a boy. Can you believe school starts this week?
HER: I know. We were so excited to start but my daughter just got sick. So now we have to find something else.
ME: (Nodding. Confused.)
HER: It was going to keep her busy all day. But not going to work now.
ME: Wait, what? Why can't she go to school?
HER: She has leukemia. We just found out 6 weeks ago.
ME: (Jaw hitting floor. Mind racing: OMG, what if it were my daughter, this is awful, what do I say? don't cry. say something. SAY SOMETHING!) I'm so sorry!
HER: It'll be ok. I have a husband and everything. Just had different plans.

After a few more minutes of small talk and shallow consolation to this seemingly well adjusted woman who just found out her daughter was about to be medically confined, I walked out of the restaurant and couldn't think straight. I was filled with question and concern and truly wanted to help. I also found myself filled with new perspective and insight. My children are arguable one of the most valuable things in my world. I couldn't put myself in the place of wondering what it would be like to find out my daughters bright, active and energetic world was about to come to a crashing halt. How selfish. How arrogant. How guilty.

I know I'm human, we all are. I was struck by the power of this brief interaction with a stranger. I felt an instant need to help and protect. Is this our role? As a fellow mother, fellow human? Is this part of a bigger plan? Was I wearing ruffles just so that I could have this chance encounter with a stranger? I will never know. But what I do know is that I'm now aware and with any luck, I will have the chance to see this story come to a beautiful happy, ending. That of normal childhood memories that don't include IV's and round-the-clock nurses.

I encourage you all to invest in this family's story. They are part of us, part of our community and if there's anyway we can help them out, I will send out the word.

If you want to read more about this amazing little girl's fight, her mother started this blog: http://macisjourney.wordpress.com/ to share the story.