By Young Joo Choi
There is no better way to start a week other than with laughter. This Monday, we continued our activity from last week where we made "paper beads." Starting off with designing a medallion with crayons and adding decorations to it. We strung the medallion and beads to create a wonderful necklace! Throughout the activity, two clowns joined the party, igniting bursts of laughter throughout the room.
I was sandwiched between two girls—one much older than the other. The older one, who had a luscious and twirly ponytail, began to braid my hair while the younger one, who was bald, looked on in fascination. In her eyes, I didn't see any shame or sadness but observed awe as she reached out to stroke the braid. She smiled at the loose waves that the braid left and tugged my sleeve to help her color her medallion.
As people finished the craft activity of the day, I sat down next to a boy who was invested in a book. There was a flash of fear inside my head when he signaled me to read the book aloud to him... in Hindi. Funnily, he ended up reading about Saturn to me instead, explaining its rings, orbit, and its grandeur in comparison to the Earth.
Just like the illustration of Earth in the book, I realized that the difference in our tongues is miniscule. Being able to communicate is important, but spoken language is not the only way. By putting myself in the mindset of the kids, I can relate to their thoughts and wants and communicate through body language and actions. Though they may not fully realize the effects that cancer on their bodies, they can sense the effort and compassion that all of the volunteers pour into the sessions. Day Care may serve children with cancer, but during there stay, they are simply children reveling in their youth and nothing more.
On Wednesday, we had a smaller group of teenagers compared to the usual but it was just as enjoyable as always. It was also a day full of crafts as they glued colorful popsicle sticks together to make a frame. Paper was distributed and many wrote delightful and cheery notes to go along with it. One wrote in her native tongue of Bengali and another inscribed a note to his mom stating that she was the best mom in the world.
Shuddah (pictured) framed a proverb: "Always be sure and be happy." Ever since our first encounter, she has been nothing but a ray of sunshine. Her light laughs and casual jokes makes everyone feel a little less tense, even with those who came for the first time. I was shocked to find that she had only been attending Day Care for a month—only as long as I have. The friendships and connections that she has built with others does not seem new or awkward but almost familial. Like the meaning and memories that she and the other teens have placed into their picture frames, it will serve as a memento of their time with CanSupport and the wonderful connections that they have fostered throughout their journey.
