‘It’s the little things that matter,’ says Patty Lee
Kristian Partington

Sometimes a small gesture’s impact lasts a lifetime.

When Patty Lee was 17, she was admitted to hospital for surgery where she woke one morning to the sight of a small cardboard flower adorning the tray beside her bed.

It was nothing fancy, cut out of the back of a cereal box, but to Patty it remains a symbol of kindness she hopes to carry forward with small gifts she’s created for people who may need a lift of spirit.

A few example of the gifts Patty Lee will share to carry on an act of kindness paid to her in her youth.

“I just felt this was something I really wanted to do to bring a little happiness into somebody’s life,” Patty says, after reaching the Village Voice to share her story.  

Her hope is the small hand-made flowers and cards she makes will brighten the days of elders just as she remembers her morning brightened in that hospital room long ago.

“I know it’s just a little thing but sometimes it’s the little things that matter,” she says.

She’s shared the story with her children over the years, but with the pace of life that comes with raising a family and running a household, she never found time to act upon her desire to return the favour — until now.

After a quick Internet search of elder-care providers in the London area, she came across the Village of Glendale Crossing and the stories of care and compassion that fill the Village Voice archives on the Schlegel Villages site.

A short e-mail later she was connected to recreation director Jennifer Hall as a point of contact to help her carry on the act of kindness that so often springs to mind.

“It’s just a little thing but it’s just something that means the world,” Patty says.

“I guess when you’re going through hard times I mean — I had a wonderful family and all that, but it was just really touching that some stranger would do that, so I just wanted to carry on that tradition.

“I never met the man, nor got to thank him, but that random act of kindness stayed with me the rest of my life.”

Jennifer was touched by the story, she says, and intends to help find homes for Patty’s gifts.

If you have a story to share, please contact 800-294-0051, ext. 24, or e-mail kristian(at)axiomnews.ca.