Sometimes it's just so hard to understand how human beings can be so awful to each other. People do such terrible things to one another and it seems like bad news is constantly outweighing any good. This week was no different. On behalf of my work family at WQLH in Green Bay to those at WDBJ in Virginia, we are so sorry for your loss.
It's because of these tragedies (which seem far too common anymore) that we decided earlier this year to start a feature on our show: Steve & Laura's Friday Feel Good. Because of the constant bad out there in the world, we thought the fans of our show needed some good news, too. So every Friday after 8:30am, we present a different heartwarming story. Even if for just a moment, we hope this segment will let our listeners know that there are still some good people out there who are making the world a little brighter.
While a shadow fell over many this week, I'd like to shine a spotlight on two very special people here in Northeast Wisconsin. Two people who prove that goodness still exists and bravery has no age limit.
I received a phone call from a friend of mine on Sunday night. She explained that there is a young girl named Macy who is undergoing the battle of her life. At the age of 14, she is fighting cancer. Macy is just a few days away from starting school again this year and is dealing with way more than any teenager should have to.
The hardest thing I remember facing as a 14 year old girl was two-a-day basketball practices and quarter court drills. It doesn't seem fair because right now Macy is braving another round of chemo as I type this. She is so young and so much stronger than I could ever hope to be.
Like most teenage girls, she's also a big fan of the boy band, One Direction.
Through the kindness of a perfect stranger, Macy had the chance this week to see her favorite band at Miller Park on Tuesday night. She had a few hours to forget about treatments and being sick and just be. Just be happy. Just be excited. Just be a young girl enjoying her first concert.
That stranger has a name and although he wanted this to be all about Macy and less about him, what he did was beautiful.
Chad Weston is a volunteer fire fighter for the town of Omro, WI. He's also a hospice worker and the drummer in the band Star Six Nine. Chad is also a father. He originally purchased the One Direction tickets in hopes to take his son to the concert.
"Back in May of 2014, I lost my dad," Chad told me. "It was around that time that I first heard the One Direction song 'Story of My Life' and I really connected to it. I thought if I could share that moment at the concert with my son, it would be really special."
So Chad purchased a ticket for himself and his son with plans to attend the concert in Milwaukee. Unfortunately, as things sometimes do, something came up and they couldn't go. I've said this many times before and I firmly believe that things do happen for a reason. I think there was a reason Chad couldn't attend the show. And her name is Macy.
Chad told me that there was just something that didn't feel right about re-selling the One Direction concert tickets. "I thought it would be a really special time and I just wanted someone else to have a special night," Chad said.
So Chad posted a message on his facebook page asking if anyone knew of someone deserving of these tickets. He said that there were so many stories that came in, but from the beginning he was drawn to Macy's. A family friend had written to Chad telling him about this courageous young lady who had already lost a leg to cancer and really needed that special night away before she went back into the hospital for more treatment.
And that's exactly what she received. Through the kindness of a perfect stranger and a ride to the show courtesy of Algoma Motors, Macy attended her first concert in style.
Thank you, Chad. I couldn't agree more.
I hope you get the chance to read this and I hope you had the best night of your life at that concert. I know this next week will be pretty crappy for you because chemo stinks, but I hope you know that we're all thinking of you and we can't wait for you to come back home. Although we haven't had the chance to meet you, my co-host and I sure would like to. We're honored to share your story and we'd love to have you as a guest in our studio for the day. You might have to be a little late to school that day, but I think we could write a note to your principal. You have two really big fans at STAR 98 and we'd like to get your autograph for our Wall of Fame.
Keep fighting and as One Direction sang to you on Tuesday night, that's "What Makes You Beautiful".
With lots of love,
Your friends- Steve & Laura