Childhood cancer is simply devastating. This deadly disease breaks hearts and robs little ones of a normal life, children like three-year-old Quinn Waters of Weymouth, Mass.
Cancer affects every member of a family and turns everything upside down. Living rooms become makeshift hospital rooms, days and nights run together with seemingly endless hospital stays.
But sometimes cancer generates joy and compassion in completely unexpected ways.
Parents must remain vigilant in keeping their kids who have cancer safe and free from germs for fear that an infection would require immediate hospitalization. The American Cancer Society explains that infection is one of the most common life-threatening complications of cancer and cancer treatment, because they weaken the immune system and leave it battered, unable to fight germs.
For this very reason, Quinn hasn’t been allowed to leave his house for more than two months. This brave little boy has been battling brain cancer and a recent stem cell transplant further weakened his immune system making him susceptible to illness and infection.
No one except for Quinn’s immediate family is allowed in the house. Poor Quinn can’t go outside either.
Dad Jarlath said it’s like Quinn’s living in a bubble, but it’s for his own good. Mom Tara explained the situation further to CBS News.
“Even a common cold could be something that will bring him back into the hospital.”
No three-year-old wants to be cooped up inside, but when you’re fighting brain cancer and you can’t go outside to soak up the sun’s rays and have a little fun, it’s just crushing. So far, Quinn has been a champ about it, Mom said, but he does understandably have his off days.
“He sees all of this happening and he knows he’s stuck inside, and there would be days, days when Quinn is literally pounding to get out.”
Quinn positions himself by the front window or the sliding glass door, staring outside forlornly and wishing he could be doing something outside. But since he can’t, his family, friends and eventually the entire town decided to do something special for him, Dad said.
“It started out with family members coming to the window. The window became his window to the world.”
Neighbors brought non-contact art projects and followed his directions. People performed stupid human tricks to draw a giggle out of him. The police department rolled by with their lights flashing and sirens blaring just for Quinn, which really impressed him.
There was a dog parade that delighted the little boy, Irish step dancers that captured his attention and even more people simply wanting to cheer up a little boy stuck inside all because he has cancer. Even actress Alyssa Milano shared on Twitter how amazing the whole town has been to Quinn.
Jarlath and Tara believe that everyone’s kindness in popping by to bring a smile to Quinn’s face has truly made a difference in his recovery.
“It’s the positive energy from all these people that we believe has gotten him through his sickness, you know. You can never repay, you know — just maybe pay it forward.”
To the little boy trapped in his home on Rimini Street with a tube in his nose taped to his cheek, these people’s antics on his front lawn are more than just entertaining and a break from his illness, it’s turned out to be truly lifesaving.
Watch in the video below how Quinn simply lights up when people pop by to see him. This little fighter truly has a beautiful spark within him and we hope he makes a full recovery.
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