A Real Life Unicorn, Named John

You know those Mardi Gras beads that your kids are always bringing home from school, camp, or a random birthday party? I don’t know about you, but in our home those end up in the donation bin or the garbage quick. Last night however, I took off the strand of beads I was wearing, hung them up on my jewelry stand, and quietly wept. I wept because they were given to me by a real life unicorn and they were filled with love. A strand was also given to my friend, a fellow volunteer, and she said the same…”I think I’ll hold on to these for awhile.”

Dreamcatchers was part of the Glam Squad at last night’s Children’s Cancer Connection dance party in Boone, Iowa. We had an absolute blast! We painted tiny nails, we applied make-up to angelic faces, we braided hair for those who had it, and we gave out sparkly rings and bracelets to over a hundred and fifty kids living with cancer. We talked to them about how they were enjoying camp, what books they like to read, where they went to school, and about the friends they had made this week. We relished in the opportunity to shower these kids with genuine compliments and their smiles filled up our hearts with pure joy. And don’t even get me started on the camp counselors who were positively AMAZING! They weren’t moaning and groaning about the heat, or the daddy long legs in the bathroom…they were celebrating alongside the brave warriors they were overseeing this week. You could see and feel the love in their hearts for these sweet souls….these kiddos who have been poked, prodded, and diagnosed far more than any child should.

Now back to this unicorn I spoke of earlier. With the assistance of his counselor, a true gem named Michael, John sat down in my chair to get his nails painted. He knew exactly what he wanted, which I always appreciate in a person. He was covered in colorful bracelets, Mardi Gras beads, temporary tattoos, and had the cutest curly brown hair, spray painted red, of course. We exchanged names and I walked him through the color choices we had for polish. He chose royal blue, which I happily applied. He wanted glitter, makeup and all the bells and whistles we were offering. I don’t know anything about his cancer or what he’s been through, but I do know this: Standing only 4 feet tall, blind, and fighting cancer every day, John is living his life FULLY. He is living his life with an open heart and he is sharing his gift with everyone he meets. I’m so grateful he shared it with me.

Later on, at the dance, I spotted John and asked him to dance. I took him by the hand and he took me by the heart. A minute or so in he stopped dancing and started fumbling with his beads. I asked him if I could help. He said, “Sure. Please take off my beads…I want to give you something.” He said he wanted to give me a necklace…I asked him which color would he like me to have. He gave me gold. Then he asked where my friend was…he wanted to give her a strand of beads as well. By the way, he remembered both our names, which I can assure you is not typical for young children. This young boy, although blind, could see better than many with sight. He wanted us to dance in a circle, all holding hands, jamming away to Iggy Azalea. He blessed us all with the gift of real connection.

Thank you John! Thank you Children’s Cancer Connection! Thank you brave children! We’ll see you next year……and we’ll be wearing our beads.