Immediately, when I entered the floor of medical oncology, a unit where I had been volunteering for about a month now, a nurse approached me and asked if I had visited the patient in room seven yet. After shaking my head, she looked and me and advised, “Go in there, he has something special for the volunteers.”

I walked into an almost completely silent room; silent, except for the sounds of beads. As I walked into the hospital room and announced my presence, the man greeted me with a joyful and gracious “Hello!” He lied on the bed, with boxes and bowls of beads scattered throughout the room, on chairs, the window sill. In front of him was his bedside table. As his hands worked small red beads onto thin string, I inquired about the nurses suggested visit.

“Oh, you’re a volunteer? Have you received your bracelet yet?” he asked.

I tilted my head slightly and he held motioned me closer to his bed. In front of him amongst the string and many beads, sat about a dozen bracelets, both silver and red, with four lettered beads spelling hope intertwined between the colored beads.

“Take one,” he told me.

I reached down to the table and very reluctantly obtained a silver bracelet.

“I made the red ones for volunteers,” he explained, "but you’re special. You can have the silver one.”

After thanking him for his generosity, I asked if he needed me to retrieve any items for him and kindly explained I needed to return to complete my other duties on the unit.

About 45 minutes later when I had completed most of my responsibilities on the floor, this old man in the hospital bed still hadn’t left my mind. I approached his door an additional time, and again, announced my arrival and entered. The picture of him hadn’t changed—he was in the same place, doing the same activity with a big smile on his face, as I had left him 45 minutes earlier.

I sat and talked with this old man as to what made him start this bracelet-making business. He continued to tell me a story about his struggle with mental illnesses throughout the years and how making these bracelets as he did in summer camp as a child continued to bring him solace through difficult times.

He continued to thank me for my service and time I provide at the hospital. Because even though I am not being paid or compensated in any way, I still continue to come back every single week. He seemed very surprised by this fact, but he said all of the volunteers deserve some sort of recognition, which is why he decided to make the bracelets.

It is worth noting here he wasn't only making bracelets for only the volunteers in the medical oncology unit, but also the many other volunteers behind the scenes as well. Food service, janitorial staff, and others could all expect red bracelets from this man.

After talking with him for a longer period of time, he told me to take more bracelets. He said to use it as a buddy system, to give the silver hope bracelets to the other family, friends, and relatives I love, and then whenever I look down at the bracelet, I can think about the people most important in my life. He continued with various life advice, from growing up to relationships. Finally, he said I’m so incredibly lucky for this life, and I should live it to the fullest while I still can.

I walked out of the hospital that day in tears, with five silver hope bracelets hugging my wrist.

Even though this man was struggling and fighting for his life, he was more concerned about showing support for the countless volunteers walking in and out of those doors every day. It really put into perspective what is important in life. Despite all of his chemotherapy treatments and other obstacles, he was still one of the most positive people I had encountered, with nothing but an encouraging and thankful outlook on life.

Bad things will happen to you; that's just how life goes. We have two decisions when faced with obstacles: let it destroy us, or let it empower us. Hope gives us the motivation to continue and conquer any battle we may face.

So I will continue to wear this hope bracelet to remind me of everything this man and I discussed on that summer Sunday evening. It will remind me that no matter what mountain I may face today, there is likely to be an amazing view once I reach the top.

“Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all the darkness.” -Desmond Tutu