9-year-old was heading for chemotherapy — a Starbucks barista’s words made the boy visit him before every treatment

For a child to know that he is battling cancer and brave through treatments, medication, hospitals and appointments is a challenge. When 9-year-old Cole Harr headed for his chemotherapy, he wasn’t sure what to expect. His mom, Debbie Harr, had been sharing his journey on Instagram, @coles.crew. He was seated in the backseat as they headed to Starbucks before the treatment. When the Starbucks barista, Eddie Aldrete, heard of Cole’s plans, his words left a beautiful impact, per The Washington Post. It pushed the 9-year-old to see him before every round of chemotherapy. 

Cole was diagnosed with leukemia and the family knew it would be a long challenge and they could only hope for the best. He was scheduled to have regular rounds of chemo four days a week. It was a 2-hour drive and it was undoubtedly exhausting and bleak. The boy sat quietly in his car. There must have been a number of thoughts and emotions going through his mind. As Debbie stopped by the counter and took her drink and her son’s apple juice, Aldrete struck up a conversation. As it was the pandemic, he wanted to be cheerful. Debbie, on the other hand, knew her son could use some comfort. “Could you tell Cole he’s going to kick cancer’s butt today?” she asked the barista.

Eveready to pitch in, he looked into the backseat’s window and spotted little Cole. He then rendered a dialogue that the boy clung to. “You can do this. We are all rooting for you. We are all behind you. You are strong and you’re going to do great,” Aldrete said. He added, “You’ve got this, buddy,” leaving the little boy a little easier, a little calmer and comforted. There’s some magic about unexpected and impromptu encouragement and it worked brilliantly for Cole. His mom noted how he cheered up and approached his treatment positively. That simple conversation had such an immense impact on the 9-year-old that he decided that he wanted to see Aldrete before every appointment.

The barista, too, was keen on building this newfound bond. In a video, the mom shared how Aldrete and the fellow baristas popped up on the window to share love and support for the little boy. “I decided I’m going to be a force of positivity for Cole. I’ll be his cheerleader,” he remarked. He stayed true to his word and was there to cheer Cole ahead of every chemo. When he wasn’t around, the baristas on duty stepped in on behalf of Aldrete. “I cannot even explain how awful all of this has been. But Eddie is definitely a bright spot. He is a source of happiness,” the mom said.

The duo eventually exchanged phone numbers and started playing virtual games, and became the light in each other’s lives. “It really is a friendship,” the barista explained. He found a little brother in Cole and was sure to take this bond forward. Aldrete and his family just wanted Cole to beat cancer — which he did! In a post, the mom revealed that 3 years after the fight, in 2023, he was finally cancer-free. Extremely grateful for all the support, the mom credited the barista, saying, “We need more Eddie’s in the world.” However, the young man simply replied, “I don’t think I’ve done anything phenomenal. It’s something that any human being should do. Just be kind.”

You can follow Debbie Harr (@coles.crew) on Instagram for more inspiring content.