Sometimes the smallest, selfless act of kindness can create the biggest effect. I hear stories almost weekly of “paying it forward” in the Tim Horton’s line. For a while, it was almost like a competition of who can pay for the most coffees. 

I’ve been on the giving and receiving end of random acts of kindness. Nothing beats the feeling of knowing you made a bright spot in someone’s life today. There’s even a website that gives ideas on how to be kind to someone, if any of you are struggling with that…

One ultimate act of kindness came in the form of over 12,000 volunteers who helped transform San Francisco into “Gotham City” last Friday to make a wish come true for a five-year-old boy with cancer. 

 Miles Scott wanted something that most little kids want… to be a superhero for a day. He has already fought a bigger battle than Batman ever could imagine, as he is currently in remission after battling lymphoblastic leukemia since the age of 20 months.

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow and is the most common form of cancer in children. 

Children with ALL have less healthy white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets, which means their body has a hard time fighting infection and they are prone to anemia and easy bleeding.

The Make-a-Wish Foundation enlisted the help of generous souls who only had to give some of their free time. The word spread quickly through social media, especially on Twitter with the @SFBatKid handle, and thousands signed up for the task. 

Batkid was cruising in style in his own Lamborghini “Batmobile,” rescued a damsel in distress, battled both Penguin and the Riddler, and received a key to the city. It was a full day’s work for a pint-sized superhero. 

Many who witnessed the events had positive things to say. However, some complained that because he is in remission he doesn’t deserve to get this wish. So, because he is better after fighting for his life for the last four years, he doesn’t deserve a day to celebrate and finally enjoy just being a kid?

Chemotherapy is a grueling, painful and exhausting process. Chemo patients struggle with extreme nausea, hair loss, twitching muscles and memory loss. For a day by day account from an adult with cancer, this blog post explains it all: http://www.chroniclesofacancerpatient.com/what-does-chemotherapy-feel-like/

To imagine a child having to endure this is heart-wrenching. Yet, little Miles Scott did it and his great attitude helped pull him through. The Make-a-Wish Foundation has criteria that need to be met for a wish to be granted, and he met the criteria. Do you feel like going to Disneyland when you have the flu? To get the most out of his wish, he needed to be on a healthy upswing.

Not every sick child can be granted a wish like this. But not every child has the same wish. He didn’t ask for San Francisco to be transformed into Gotham City. All he wanted was to be Batkid. It was the result of many kind-hearted individuals who chose to make it bigger, and that is inspiring.

Miles Scott’s family is now paying it forward after the outpouring of support and compassion they received in granting their son’s wish. They have started the Batkid Fund. The proceeds will be split evenly between the three organizations that helped the family cope during Miles’ cancer battle: Make-A-Wish, the Ronald McDonald House and the Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center in Oregon.

From one good act, another is born. I strongly believe that our inner happiness is defined by what we do to help others. If your actions inspire another to do the same, there’s no telling how far your good deed will reach.

Now let me buy you a coffee…