A Pinky Swear Promise in Action

Sympathy is feeling sorry for someone. Empathy is acknowledging the feelings of another. Compassion is the best extension of these emotions. Compassion is empathy in action.

In these challenging times, compassion is essential. The economy is unstable, a tumultuous election awaits around the corner, and families across the nation struggle to keep food on the table and gas in the tanks.

Compassionate acts of service do not need to be grandiose. In fact, small acts of compassion can lead to great hope and change.

Take the story of our founder, Mitch. Mitch was a nine-year-old boy diagnosed with terminal bone cancer. One night, he was in the hospital and overheard a family talking about how they could not afford Christmas presents. This broke Mitch’s heart.

He asked if he could use his own money to help.

Later that night, Mitch divided up his life savings and placed them into orange-colored envelopes, simply signed with, “Love, Mitch xoxo.” He then anonymously slipped these envelopes under the door for every kid on the pediatric oncology floor at his hospital.

Mitch raced back to the elevator in his wheelchair, and as the doors closed, Mitch looked up at his dad and said, “That was great! I can’t wait to do it again next year.”

Mitch’s parents had always been honest with him about his prognosis.

“I’m sorry, buddy, but I don’t think you’ll be here next year.”

Mitch paused to reflect on that statement. Then he looked up and said, “Well, Dad. Then make me a ‘pinky swear promise’ that you’ll continue to do this after I’m gone.”

Now THAT is compassion in action.

From that single, small act of kindness, Pinky Swear Foundation was born. Today, we still uphold that original pinky swear promise and carry on Mitch’s compassionate spirit.

I often think about Mitch’s parents. They had a choice to sit alone in their grief and do nothing. Mitch’s compassion could have died with him.

Instead, they sat down at the kitchen table and turned their grief into something bigger. That was the start of their healing, and it became a movement. Mitch’s compassion became contagious. What began with a simple pinky swear promise is now an organization helping families with a child battling cancer nationwide.

When you extend compassion to another, you begin to bury your own troubles, too. And you inspire others. Today, be like Mitch – and tomorrow will be brighter.

-Erica Campbell