Daughter ordered balloons for mom finishing chemo. The seller canceled but left a note that said it all

Shannon Hardwood (@shannonhar95 on X), a loving daughter, wanted to surprise her mom with something special the day she completed her last chemo session. So, she placed an order for balloons, saying, "F*** Cancer," but then she was left baffled when she saw the order was canceled. Then she realized the seller had left a note for her along with the cancellation confirmation. The post has got over 400k likes on Twitter since it was shared by Shannon on February 11, 2021.

After placing an order with Eighty80 LTD through Amazon, Shannon received an email informing her about an "unexpected problem" in completing her purchase. "We have refunded your order, because we agree with your balloons," the seller-company wrote, explaining that they have already shipped her order, without charging her a penny. Further, they suggested that she should use the refund amount to buy a cake instead. A day later, Shannon posted a follow-up tweet, sharing the picture of the "infamous balloons." Moreover, she expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the company and wrote, "It's a gesture we’ll always remember; they deserve all the recognition they’re getting."

Cancer, one of the leading causes of death in the world, is one of the most painful experiences in a person's life. Every single day, countless people lose their battle against the horrifying disease. However, a report published in January 2023 by City of Hope, a cancer center, claimed that there has been a significant decline in new cases and more success stories of those diagnosed over the last three decades. So, winning against cancer is truly special, and perhaps, realizing this profound reality, Shannon also wanted to celebrate her mom's journey.

Meanwhile, when Shannon shared the sweet little story online, it received an overwhelming response from people praising the company for their profound gesture. For example, @joonsgotmilk commented, "I totally agree with your balloon and should think about getting one for my mom, because she is also doing chemo and will finish in a few months. I hope your mom will & is living a happy life, I wish your family all the best!" Another user, @elizathertonsop, shared, "This brought a much-needed smile to my lips. Thank you. And then I quickly wished I hadn’t scrolled down to witness some of the extraordinary and negative responses you’ve had to your tweet. Hope your mum continues to do well and you enjoyed the balloons AND cake!"

On the other hand, @mancsanders said, "How lovely! [It] just goes to show there are a lot of caring people out there. One wonders if this supplier does such for all the customers who purchased these balloons, fair play to them and utmost respect to them, wishing your mum a full recovery." Echoing the sentiments, someone,  @emmayates4, commented, "My husband also finishes his chemo/radio tomorrow. I WISH I could have gotten him the same balloons, but I have instead settled for 'congratulations,' which doesn't quite have the same ring to it, really." Similarly, @pedro_xxl shared, "What confused me initially was your choice of emojis, it seems like you are eye-rolling at their response, making me think their response was bad, but it is actually amazingly kind and supportive. All power to them and to you." @ben wrote, "They had absolutely no obligation to do that; they have a business to run, and I'm sure you understood that. This is a truly outstanding gesture. Brilliant stuff!"

You can follow Shannon Hardwood (@shannonhar95) on X for lifestyle content.