Kindness is often overlooked as we move through life. We expect life to happily happen. We know there will be good times and bad. Life can be tricky. We are rarely ready for the unexpected. It takes a loving family and the community’s kindness to help with the healing process.
February 28, 2010, is a day that I will always remember. My niece, Alexis Diana Speight lost her life to childhood cancer. At Thanksgiving dinner in 2009, Lexi complained of a tummy ache. The cancer moved at warp speed to take her from all who loved her. Children’s National Medical Center became home to Lexi’s intimate little family. Petr and Cyndi were by Lexi’s side through it all. Lexi could not have had better, attentive parents We continue to support my little brother and his young family emotionally.. After Lexi transitioned, the kindness of others grew a community.
Laps for Lexi (a 501 (c)(3) was born. This charitable organization’s goal was to raise money to support research for childhood cancer and a scholarship at the Sandy Springs Friends School. The kindness and generosity of a loving community pulled together to raise enough money to celebrate achieving a goal honoring Lexi. The Sandy Springs Friends School was Lexi’s school. For 13 years, Laps for Lexi was a good reason for many in the community to come together for a day of remembrance.
On November 1, at Children’s National Hospital, we celebrated the installation of the Lexi Speight Chair of Pediatric Oncology. Dr. AeRang Kim, M.D., Ph.D. is now the first recipient of The Lexi Speight Chair in Pediatric Oncology. The opportunity for a new way to treat solid cancerous tumors is now under the purview of Dr. Kim. After meeting Dr. Kim, I knew the research would take on cancer headfirst. On November 1, as we honored Lexi, childhood cancer has a new warrior. Dr. Kim is working to find a way to give other parents hope and more children the opportunity to beat this awful disease.
Not willing to give up, my sister-in-love Cyndi, my youngest brother Petr, and my niece Samantha became activists against cancer. With the love and support of an entire community, an effort of love to help other children with cancer became bigger than life. It is the best way to honor Lexi’s name. Lexi’s transition has forever changed our family. Friendships have been solidified, and the effort to honor Lexi has bolstered support from local businesses and more.
That mission was to show how Kindness grows in a community. Kindness goes a long way and the minimal effort it takes should not go unnoticed. Simply practicing kindness is easy. Did you know we recently observed National Kindness Day? It was the perfect day to commit to being better people in our communities and to strangers along the way.
At a time when we need kindness to be part of our daily random acts, consider looking around and making an effort to promote kindness in your community. Many people might be going through a crisis and not share it. Some might carry a heavy burden for many reasons that might not be obvious. Did you know a simple smile could be the seed to start a positive interaction?
Sowing seeds of kindness can show you care. A smile, a note, or a nod, might just be the acknowledgment needed at the right time. Give it a try. I carry seeds of kindness everywhere I go. I urge you to do the same.
Are you sowing seeds of kindness in your community?
Teri, Cottage in the Court
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