My daughter and I were in the Cullman TJ Maxx shopping today (Wednesday, April 17) while waiting on prescriptions to be filled for the family.

My husband has stage IV colorectal cancer and we are soon to take a trip to MD Anderson as recommended by his oncologist. We were shopping for supplies needed for the trip, supplies needed to help make life easier for friends keeping the kids while we are gone, clothing for him and summer clothing for the kids.

While waiting in line, a very sweet lady and I got to talking. I had a full cart of supplies and I mentioned we were preparing for our trip to Texas here soon. I mentioned my husband had cancer and he’d lost weight so I found some nice clothes I thought he’d like and be comfortable in. She was finished checking out at another register and I was getting close to being finished checking out and she came over to me and said I’d like to pay for this to help you out.

I told her we were ok and was so thankful for her offering, but she was firm in wanting to help us. This sweet lady, that we didn’t know, wanted to step in and help us the best way she thought she could and paid for everything for us. She reassured to me that she knows we will be alright and will get through this. I know she could see my eyes watering, and I hugged her and thanked her.

My mind gets a little scattered while I’m out with my daughter trying to keep her close by and I didn’t get her name and wished I did. I know she was mentioning to my daughter something funny she saw on Facebook so I’m hoping she sees this and knows how thankful we are for her kindness.

If anyone has dealt with a close family member with health issues you find out quickly the expenses add up. You learn to do anything and everything you can possible to make them comfortable and their life easier. I didn’t grow up here, I grew up in a small town near Auburn, but my husband grew up in Cullman and once word got out about my husband having cancer the community stepped in and helped out immediately. Everyone in our small community of Hanceville, including the school has helped in every way they can. Just by seeing the amount of kindness while going through this reassures that we made the right decision to raise our children here in Cullman.