Sometimes a small act of kindness goes so far that it touches your heart for an entire lifetime. Alexander Ackled-Dold still remembers the little things when he was receiving treatment for leukaemia as a child at Southlake’s pediatric oncology clinic. The teen recounted how the staff were always kind as he was in and out of hospitals for treatment, they drew smiley faces on his bandages and one volunteer even provided LEGO minifigures to the children whenever they came in for treatment.
Now in Grade 12 and cancer-free, he said those actions have made a lifetime of difference and inspired him to do the same for others going through treatment today.
“Whenever I would go, I just remembered the little things some of the nurses would do that would make the visit less about me going there to get a treatment,” he said. “It’s a good distraction for the kids when they’re there,” Ackles-Dold said. since access is limited during treatment, Alexander said it was great interacting with staff there again, years after he was a patient While the campaign does not donate to the children directly. “It’s been a long time, and it’s been nice to give back to them and see them all happy about what I’m doing,” he said.
The project aims to give kids something fun to look forward to when they receive treatment, akin to what Alexander experienced when he was younger and in that situation.