The Power of a Smile
Alec, my sister, and I walked up the white cement steps leading to the beautiful home of Kristen Griffiths. It was about 7:30pm on a Wednesday night, we had planned on meeting with Kristen and delivering her Smiles Package for a couple of weeks now. We knocked on the door and Kristen soon opened it and welcomed us to her home where she and her husband have lived for a long time. Although she had been battling breast cancer since January of 2016, she opened the door with a bright smile on her face. She carried the weight of many chemo treatments, but she was still youthful and had a firm determination surrounding her. We were also soon greeted by her stunning miniature schnauzer, Baxter. He leaned back on his hind legs and put his front paws on me and stared at my face until I succumbed to his cuteness and bent down and scratched his ears.
We sat in Kristen’s living room while Alec shared his story with her and she inspired us with hers. We talked about life, Wonder Woman, and future plans. She opened her gifts while we took pictures and enjoyed the moment. We hung out for about an hour before we finally freed her of us. It was a good night.
I don’t usually get to deliver Smiles Packages with Alec, but I am glad I delivered this one with him. It is always difficult for me to help deliver these Smiles Packages because it breaks my heart that amazing people like Kristen have to be put through such arduous treatments that exhaust them to the point they can rarely leave the house. Kristen had a smile on while we were there, but I know there are moments when no one is looking and she has to silently suffer with only her dog beside her.
I know Alec has his moments of silent suffering as well, but it’s the occasions full of smiles that encourage him to keep fighting and help him through the silent suffering.
During Alec’s treatments, he has been given so much love from family and friends that have given him many moments full of smiles. If it weren’t for those smiles, then the constant returns to the hospital and the monotony of chemo would compound on him to the point of giving up. That is the power of smile. We are inspiring those who are suffering and supporting them through their most difficult moments. We are lighting a fire of hope and encouragement for them in the form of a smile.
The longer we run this foundation the more I realize how much good we are really doing. As much as it hurts to see so many people in difficult situations, I know we are helping them with the power of a smile. I wish you guys could see all the smiles and good moments that come from the foundation’s efforts. Although you may not to get to see all of them, I want to show you one that happened recently. Below is a video that Elayna, a Smiles Package recipient, sent us last week.
Thanks for being apart of this foundation with us, we look forward to many smiles still yet to come!
- The Future of AJU Foundation - October 10, 2018
- The Power of a Smile - August 11, 2017
- Updates on Updates - April 26, 2017