Almost a year ago, I started working at CCSI. I had NO experience in credit cards, banking, and had never run a system that was so complex! I showed up to my first day of training not knowing what the building was like, or who anyone was (I was interviewed over the phone). The first person I met was a woman about my mom's age. She seemed just as nervous as I was so we didn't really say much to each other. We went through training and got to know each other a little more and found out we would be sharing a cubicle together. We began to form a mother/daughter type of relationship that benefited me more than I ever thought it would. She was there for me when my mom couldn't be (we live on 2 opposites ends of the state) and picked me up when I was down.
When Thanksgiving rolled around, we found out that we both worked that day and couldn't be with our families. B and I invited her over to our house and boy, did we have a feast! There was food for what seemed like miles! It was nice to be so far away from my family and still feel like I was right there with them. And it was all because of her.
Fast forward a few months--I came into work one day to see her in tears. I automatically start to tear up without knowing what was wrong. She proceeds to tell me that she was diagnosed breast cancer, and was having surgery to have the lump removed. Fingers crossed they caught it early enough so she didn't have to go through chemo. The surgery went well but the cancer had progressed further than they originally thought and she indeed had to go through chemo. Although she had a lot of people supporting her, I couldn't blame her for feeling down. Most people would give the "oh I have cancer and I can't do anything" card but she showed up to work everyday, no matter how bad she was feeling and kept trucking on. Then she had to face another obstacle. There was an infection in her intestines that was extremely painful. Still I would see a smile on her beautiful face.
One day she mentioned that she liked the wig she had, but there was one- might I add, the only one- on her wishlist that she really liked. She gave me a few details about it and another coworker and I decided that we were going to raise money to buy her that wig. We talked to other people at work and they were more than happy to chip in to help us buy her the wig that she wanted. In 2 weeks, we had raised enough money to buy the wig, and give her an extra $50 bucks to do what she wanted with! Amazing, I tell ya!
Fast forward again to Thursday-- The day we would lift her spirits and give her that wig and a card that was SO full of encouraging words that we had to add paper to it! She was on her lunch break so we all surrounded her desk as one of the managers pulled her onto the floor. We directed her to her desk where there was the card, gift bag, and spirit award. It was so touching to see how grateful she was as she opened the bag and pulled out the wig. With tears streaming down her face she thanked and hugged everyone. It was SO great to see the joy in her face that hadn't been there in a while. I am grateful to be a part of it and hope I blessed her as much as she blesses me!
I will end with this...
Together, we will find a cure. Until then, we will buy cute hair! :)
.JPG)
No comments:
Post a Comment