Here is the lovely story from Suzanne Hilbron who was wonderfully surprised when she was given a trip toL.A.......andacruise to Mexico... on the 1st of September 2005.

It's amazing how sometimes things have a way of working out. When you've had a really rough run and everything seems to be going wrong, something comes along, completely unexpected and changes all that, picks you back up and makes you think geeze there really must be someone up there looking out for us! Well that's exactly what happened to me in September 2005, on Random Act of Kindness Day.

This year has been an extremely tough one for our family. Early on this year Mum found out, after seeming to overcome her breast cancer two years ago, she was diagnosed with a secondary terminal cancer in her liver. We were all absolutely devastated. Having to go through monthly ordeal of chemotherapy and after effects has been really tough for her. Then in April I had a bad accident when I slipped mowing the lawns, hitting my head and rupturing my eye, losing most of my sight. This lead to a lot of surgery and Mum having to drive me back & forth to the hospital. Though this became a bit of a joke with us trying to coincide all our hospital appointments!

Then my older sister (obviously not wanting to be left out) had a stint in hospital after getting an infection in here hand and she to had to have numerous operations. Going through this all in such a short space of time was trying and we decided that when Mum had finished her Chemo we'd have all go on a holiday somewhere as a bit of a reward and something that we could plan with Mum so she could have something exciting to look forward to.

But realising the costs it was something that seem to be slipping further and further away and we both thought it would never happen.

Then on 1 September of this year I was sitting outside having lunch when I was approached by a bunch of smiling strangers. I knew something was up but could never have prepared myself to hear what they were about to tell me...... "As part of our Random Act of Kindness Day we'd like to give you a trip for to L.A.......and a cruise to Mexico...." and well, I think my mind just went blank after that! I was absolutely gobsmacked, blown away!!!

I just couldn't believe it was happening to me!
I was smiling so hard my cheeks hurt!! I couldn't even think what to say to thank everyone. It was such a great feeling....like all my Christmases come at once!!

But the best part by far was Mum having no idea and seeing it on the 6 o'clock news! When I got home that night I didn't tell her anything but had her sit down to watch the news (with a bottle of bubbly of course!) and when the item came on her reaction was absolutely priceless. It makes me laugh just remembering it. She was jumping up and down and screaming in disbelief. Her words were "this is the best thing that has ever happened to me!" Then the phone started ringing with relatives who saw it and the moment got relived about 10 times!

I think it's such an awesome idea to have a "Random Act of Kindness" Day.
A day where people do something nice for someone else for no other reason than to see them smile and to make their day.....or in our case their year!
I hope this continues on next year and the year after! On the way home from work that day I bought the biggest bunch of flowers I could find and gave them to a lady waiting at a bus stop, passing on some of the kindness I had just received.

We have been absolutely spoilt by this and I just can't express how amazed and grateful we are that people have done this for us and given us this awesome trip. It really means so much to both of us and for me it's something really special I can share with my Mum.

A HUGE big thanks to Josh de Jong, Carnival Cruises and Air Tahiti Nui.
You guys are all truly wonderful !

Suzanne Hilbron