At the age of twenty-one, Susan was diagnosed with breast cancer. Of course, the news devastated this young, vibrant college student. To make matters worse, she had no money to cover the medical expenses. Her father had recently lost his job, and her disabled mother hadn’t worked in nearly fifteen years.

With an empty bank account and a heart full of faith, Susan began six weeks of chemotherapy treatments. I accompanied her to her chemo appointment one day, and I was amazed at the strength radiating from her face before and after the grueling treatments. Despite her desperate circumstances, Susan’s faith sustained her.

Before long, Susan became very ill, and the intense pain was growing unbearable. Though she received unrelenting prayer and support from her family, friends and professors, the pain persisted. Soon, she had lost all her hair. “If nothing else,” she would tease, “I’ll save money on hair care!” Despite her positive outlook and unyielding faith, her financial situation remained grim. She already owed more than ten thousand dollars in medical expenses, and she had no income or savings.

One cold February day while Susan was in the hospital, a visitor came to see her. The elderly gentleman with a sweet countenance asked, “Are you Susan?”

“Yes,” she replied.

“My name is Mark White, and I live here in town. My wife was in the bed next to you on your first visit to the hospital, but you weren’t here long, and while you were here, you were very sick. My wife and I prayed for you each night before going to bed, and we often wondered how you were.” The man continued, “My wife died about two days after you left, and I’m here today to pick up some of her things.”

Susan nodded, not sure how to respond.

The man proceeded, “The nurse informed me you were back in the hospital. My wife overheard you talking on the phone with your mom one night about your financial situation. My wife and I wanted to help you, and we knew of no better way than to give you this money. We don’t know you well, but we want to help. You were always a joy for my wife to talk to and a great encouragement to her. Please take this check and use it for your hospital bills.”

As the gentleman walked away, he turned back, “I know you’re going to make it, kid. Just keep believing.”

As Susan opened the envelope, she thought, How nice that this elderly couple gave me twenty or fifty dollars. But what she found inside the envelope was not a twenty-dollar bill or a fifty-dollar bill; it was a check for ten thousand dollars! Weeping, she read the attached note, “Someone needs your encouragement today. Thanks for encouraging me for the few short days I knew you. Love, Marie White.”

Susan did just as Mr. White had said—she kept believing. Susan’s cancer was gone in a few months and has never returned. In her own special way, Susan reminded me to encourage someone every day; her story has remained with me, and its message becomes more valuable with time. When I asked Susan how to end her story, she said God had given her what she believed to be the greatest gift of all—life.

And, oh yes, I think the money helped, too.

Scott Thurman | Submitted by Kelley Smith