Dr Kelly Fleming

The second year of my journey with breast cancer, things were hard for me.

I had hit a wall emotionally.

I was walking down the street one Sunday with Dayton and a lady stopped to ask questions about Dayton. He was wearing his service dog harness.

As best as we could communicate, I told her some of the things he did for me. Opening doors, picking things up, helping get dressed, helping me in and out of bed amongst many other things.

I mentioned that it was hard for me at the time being separated from him so often because I was battling breast cancer (which also explained my bald head).

As we finished our conversation, she took my hand and said I’ll remember you in my prayers. I thanked her.

What I did not know was she placed money in my hand. I don’t have much feeling in my hands and I didn’t realize it until she had walked away.

I can’t judge the reason why she gave me money, perhaps it was out of pity, perhaps it was just the kindness of her heart.

Did she see a Deaf, Disabled woman fighting breast cancer and have pity on me?

I don’t know. But what the woman didn’t know was that I only had $2 in my wallet and it was still 2 weeks before I would get my monthly cheque. I had no money for food.

I looked at the money in my hand and there was $50. Enough money to buy food for the next two weeks. After which time I was going into the hospital for my second surgery.

I believe in paying it forward. I watched my Mum do it all my life even when she only had $10 in her wallet and a family of her own to feed and take care of.

The pockets of every coat she owned had change in them so that if she was at a store and someone needed an extra dollar or two to pay for their groceries, she gave it to them.

I too, have practiced that whenever I could.

Sometimes that kindness is given out of pity but I believe that it is a kindness that is truly from the heart.

I don’t know the lady’s name. I wouldn’t recognize her if I ever saw her again (and maybe she has seen me since that day 9 years ago).

But… I will always remember her kindness. Her interest in Dayton and all the things he could do to help me. I was able to share with her how important service dogs are for their humans and the independence they give us.

In turn, her $50 gave me food I could not have bought with my $2 that was in my wallet.

Kindness comes in many forms and that day will stay with me forever.