A mother and her husband stopped for a quick bite to eat at a nearby Applebee’s after one of the worst few days of their lives. While the couple was sitting at the bar, the woman unexpectedly shot up and ran into the restroom. However, once she walked in, she immediately began sobbing when she realized who was in there with her.

Heidi Rubin and her husband Brice decided to stop at an Applebee’s in Summersville, West Virginia, after the worst weekend of their lives. The couple’s six-week-old daughter, Lillian Taylor Rubin, had been rushed to the Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania earlier in the week and was diagnosed with Angiosarcoma, which is a cancer of the inner lining of the blood vessels. Unfortunately, baby Lillian tragically passed away over the weekend.

Heidi Rubin, Brice, and Lillian (Image Source: Pray For Baby Lillian)

The couple was still fighting through their raw emotions during their trip home, but they decided to be strong enough to stop and grab a bite to eat before they went back home to their empty house. However, what happened while they were at the restaurant is something Heidi will never forget – and neither will the rest of us.

“My in-laws were in the process of moving all the baby stuff into storage so we wouldn’t have to deal with it when we got home,” Heidi explained in a Facebook post. “Unfortunately, it was taking a bit longer than we thought it would so we stopped at your restaurant for the first food we had eaten since Friday.”

Lillian Taylor Rubin as a newborn (Image Source: Facebook)

Heidi explained that she and her husband decided to sit at the bar in hopes they would both be able to keep their composure while they ordered their food. However, Heidi explained that she was about to begin crying when she quickly stood up and rushed to the bathroom. Once she was safely inside, she realized she wasn’t alone and began sobbing when she realized who was there.

“One of your managers just happened to be in there,” Heidi said. “She asked if I was alright and patiently let me spill my soul to her. She let me cry to her and tried to comfort me. She made me feel better enough to return to my seat.” Although the manager was kind to Heidi, what happened when she returned to her seat was what gave her and her husband hope for the future.

“Shortly after another manager came up to us and gave me a big hug and offered her condolences. As we were about to leave we asked for our check,” she explained. “I broke down when I read the note they gave us with it, saying they covered our lunch. The bartender asked if she could give me a hug and I tearfully said yes.”

The note left by the Applebee’s staff (image Source: Love What Matters)

Regretfully, Heidi doesn’t remember the names of any of the kind individuals she and her husband met that day. Regardless, she wanted to thank them for their kindness. “It’s such a small gesture that brought much-needed light to a period of profound darkness in our lives. Their compassion will never be forgotten,” she said.

To help during this difficult time, a GoFundMe account has been opened in honor of Lillian and several people have already donated $9,200 of a $10,000 goal.

R.I.P. Lillian (Image Source: GoFundMe)

There are no words to explain what it feels like to lose a child. Unfortunately, no matter how devastating it must feel, life continues to go on. Thankfully, there are a few kind souls left in the world who are able to step up and help someone during times of devastation.

Only by the Grace of God was this couple able to be blessed by the Applebee’s staff at a time when they needed a miracle. Although there is nothing we can say to make this couple overcome their loss, the things we do as people can help make the process easier, and thankfully, someone was there who was willing to do whatever it took to help this couple heal.

Let this be a lesson to us all: if you see someone who is hurting, don’t just stand by, step in and offer a kind gesture. It may be the only thing they need to keep fighting through whatever they’re dealing with. It’s better to offer a blessing than to wish you had when it’s too late.