A story of unexpected kindness and generosity
Some people come into your life for a reason, in the most unexpected ways. This is a story of generosity, shared experiences, and the power of kindness.
Growing up, I was raised with the value of kindness—without expecting anything in return. Those values were instilled in our home.
One weekend in February, my friend told me about a luxury estate sale hosted by Mary De Santis, owner of MDS Estate Sales. She was, unknowingly, the architect of what was about to unfold.
The estate sale was filled with beautiful luxury items-a collection that once belonged to the daughter’s mother, who had recently passed away from cancer. As I browsed through scarves, jewelry, and a designer red purse that had captured my heart, I also stumbled upon something I hadn’t expected: cancer caps.
At the time, I was in the middle of my own breast cancer journey, recently diagnosed on December 23, 2024. I tried on sweaters and brought them to Mary to pay for them. The sweaters were covered in my hair from chemo, and though I felt slightly embarrassed, I couldn’t hide it. The moment was surreal.
When Mary realized what I was going through, something shifted. It brought her back 19 years to her own battle with cancer. Without hesitation, she had one of her team members speak to the owner’s son-in-law, sharing my story: “We have a woman here with cancer, and she needs a wig.” I believe the original plan had been to donate the wigs. She then said, “I have to speak to Paula, the daughter, about the red bag.” What happened next was beyond anything I could have imagined.
Sandra, one of the team members, began having me try on wigs that had belonged to Paula’s mother. I was completely overwhelmed. That very week, I had started losing my hair. And yet, here I was-gifted not just one, but three wigs and several caps. It felt as if Paula’s mother was watching over, guiding this moment of unexpected grace and kindness.
Even though the red bag was beyond my price range, something about it spoke to me. I wasn’t sure why, but I felt it would help me through what I was facing.
Later that afternoon, Mary called to tell me that Paula was willing to sell the red purse to me at a generous discount. She added, “Paula is here now if you want to come and meet her.” I said I’d be right there since I lived close by.
When I walked into the apartment, I was wearing Paula’s mother’s wig, coat, and ring. I was introduced to Paula, and she graciously shook my hand. I hesitated and said, “I feel like I should hug you.” We embraced each other. Everyone was crying.
I told Paula that I lost my own mother at 24 and that you never truly get over a loss like that. I shared how much her mother’s items meant to me and how I would always honour her mother’s memory. The whole room was in tears-Mary, remembering her own cancer battle; Sandra, who had so kindly helped with the wigs and caps; and Paula, who was seeing her mother’s legacy live on in a new and deeply personal way.
Paula had agreed to sell me the red purse at a generous price. But by then, it wasn’t just about the bag. It was about the kindness of strangers who, in a moment of shared understanding, became something more.
A few minutes later, I walked over to Mary, ready to pay for the bag. As I stood there, Paula walked up to me and handed me the red purse and said, “Heather, I want you to have the bag. It’s my gift to you.”
I was completely taken aback. The generosity, the kindness—it was overwhelming. I hesitated, not knowing how to accept such a gift, but as I looked around, everyone was crying. The emotions in that room were beyond words. It was a moment of pure, unexpected magic, one that no one outside that apartment could ever fully understand. That moment was with me for days and still is.
Even Paula’s husband, witnessing the scene, took a step back and said, “Talk about ending on a high note.” Estate sales often carry a sense of sadness, a closing of a chapter. This one was different. It ended with kindness, generosity, and an unbreakable human connection.
For that, I am forever grateful.
Heather Taylor is a Senior Executive Assistant, a longtime partner to the love of her life who has been her rock throughout this journey, a mother, sister, and a friend who values connection and living with purpose.
