{"id":2464,"date":"2026-05-22T09:41:13","date_gmt":"2026-05-22T09:41:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/2026\/05\/22\/a-strangers-compliment-helped-her-feel-confident-after-chemo\/"},"modified":"2026-05-22T09:41:13","modified_gmt":"2026-05-22T09:41:13","slug":"a-strangers-compliment-helped-her-feel-confident-after-chemo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/?p=2464","title":{"rendered":"A stranger&#8217;s compliment helped her feel confident after chemo"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"storytitle\">\n<h1>A stranger&#8217;s compliment helped her feel confident after chemo<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"STORYTITLE\" --><\/p>\n<div id=\"story-meta\" class=\"story-meta has-byline\">\n<div class=\"story-meta__one\">\n<div class=\"story-meta__one-inner\">\n<div class=\"dateblock\">\n    <time datetime=\"2026-05-22T05:00:00-04:00\"><br \/>\n            <span class=\"date\">May 22, 2026<\/span><span class=\"time\">5:00 AM ET<\/span><br \/>\n    <\/time>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"program-block\">\n                        Heard on             <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/programs\/all-things-considered\/2026\/05\/21\/all-things-considered-for-may-21-2026\">All Things Considered<\/a>\n         <\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"PROGRAM-BLOCK\" -->\n      <\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"STORY-META__ONE-INNER\" -->\n   <\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"STORY-META__ONE\" --><\/p>\n<div class=\"story-meta__two\">\n<div id=\"storybyline\" class=\"storybyline-wrap linkLocation\">\n<div class=\"bucketwrap byline\">\n<div class=\"byline-container--block\">\n<p class=\"byline__name--block\">By\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"byline byline--block byline--has-link\" aria-label=\"Byline\">\n<p class=\"byline__name byline__name--block\">\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/people\/856044829\/laura-kwerel\" rel=\"author\"><br \/>\n      Laura Kwerel<br \/>\n    <\/a>\n  <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKETWRAP BYLINE\" -->\n      <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"STORY-META__TWO\" -->\n<\/div>\n<p><!-- END ID=\"STORY-META\" CLASS=\"STORY-META HAS-BYLINE\" --><\/p>\n<div id=\"headlineaudio\" class=\"storylocation linkLocation\">\n<article id=\"resnx-s1-9780683\" class=\"bucketwrap resaudio\" aria-label=\"audio-module\">\n<div class=\"audio-module\">\n<h4 class=\"audio-module-title\">A stranger&#8217;s compliment helped her feel confident after chemo<\/h4>\n<div class=\"audio-module-controls-wrap\" data-audio='{\"uid\":\"nx-s1-5825045:nx-s1-9780683\",\"available\":true,\"duration\":172,\"title\":\"A strangeru0027s compliment helped her feel confident after chemo\",\"audioUrl\":\"https:\/\/ondemand.npr.org\/anon.npr-mp3\/npr\/atc\/2026\/05\/20260521_atc_a_stranger_s_compliment_helped_her_feel_confident_after_chemo.mp3?t=progseg&amp;e=nx-s1-5812274&amp;p=2&amp;seg=11&amp;d=172&amp;size=2768188&amp;sc=siteplayer\",\"storyUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/05\/22\/nx-s1-5825045\/stranger-compliment-helped-feel-confident-chemo-my-unsung-hero\",\"slug\":\"National\",\"program\":\"All Things Considered\",\"affiliation\":\"\",\"song\":\"\",\"artist\":\"\",\"album\":\"\",\"track\":0,\"type\":\"segment\",\"subtype\":\"other\",\"skipSponsorship\":false,\"hasAdsWizz\":false,\"isStreamAudioType\":false,\"podcastEpisodeRawType\":\"\",\"podcastEpisodeDerivedPlusType\":\"\"}' data-audio-metrics=\"[]\">\n<div class=\"audio-module-controls audio-module-controls--no-js\">\n            <a class=\"audio-module-listen\" href=\"https:\/\/ondemand.npr.org\/anon.npr-mp3\/npr\/atc\/2026\/05\/20260521_atc_a_stranger_s_compliment_helped_her_feel_confident_after_chemo.mp3?t=progseg&amp;e=nx-s1-5812274&amp;p=2&amp;seg=11&amp;d=172&amp;size=2768188&amp;sc=siteplayer&amp;aw_0_1st.playerid=siteplayer\"><br \/>\n                <b class=\"audio-module-listen-inner\"><br \/>\n                    <b class=\"audio-module-listen-text\"><br \/>\n                        <b class=\"audio-module-cta\"><br \/>\n                            Listen<br \/>\n                        <\/b><br \/>\n                        <b class=\"audio-module-listen-duration\"><br \/>\n                            <span>\u00b7 <\/span><br \/>\n                            <span>2:52<\/span><br \/>\n                        <\/b><br \/>\n                    <\/b><br \/>\n                <\/b><br \/>\n            <\/a><br \/>\n                <time class=\"audio-module-duration\" datetime=\"P2M,52S\"><br \/>\n                  <span class=\"audio-module-duration__initial-value\">2:52<\/span><br \/>\n                <\/time>\n        <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"audio-module-tools\">\n            <a class=\"audio-tool audio-tool-transcript\" href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/transcripts\/nx-s1-5825045\" data-metrics-ga4='{\"category\":\"audio\",\"action\":\"audio_click_transcript\",\"storyId\":\"nx-s1-5825045\",\"mediaId\":\"nx-s1-9780683\",\"title\":\"A stranger&amp;#39;s compliment helped her feel confident after chemo\",\"type\":\"ondemand\"}'><br \/>\n                <b class=\"audio-tool-label\">Transcript<\/b><br \/>\n            <\/a><br \/>\n        <button class=\"audio-module-tools-toggle\" data-metrics-ga4='{\"category\":\"audio\",\"action\":\"audio_open_more_options\",\"storyId\":\"nx-s1-5825045\",\"mediaId\":\"nx-s1-9780683\",\"title\":\"A stranger&amp;#39;s compliment helped her feel confident after chemo\",\"type\":\"ondemand\"}'><br \/>\n            <b class=\"label\">Toggle more options<\/b><br \/>\n        <\/button><\/p>\n<ul class=\"audio-module-more-tools\">\n<li class=\"audio-tool audio-tool-download\"><a href=\"https:\/\/ondemand.npr.org\/anon.npr-mp3\/npr\/atc\/2026\/05\/20260521_atc_a_stranger_s_compliment_helped_her_feel_confident_after_chemo.mp3?t=progseg&amp;e=nx-s1-5812274&amp;p=2&amp;seg=11&amp;d=172&amp;size=2768188&amp;sc=siteplayer&amp;aw_0_1st.playerid=siteplayer\" data-metrics-ga4='{\"category\":\"audio\",\"action\":\"audio_download\",\"storyId\":\"nx-s1-5825045\",\"mediaId\":\"nx-s1-9780683\",\"title\":\"A stranger&amp;#39;s compliment helped her feel confident after chemo\",\"type\":\"ondemand\"}'><b class=\"audio-tool-label\">Download<\/b><\/a>\n                <\/li>\n<li class=\"audio-tool audio-tool-embed\">\n                    <button data-embed-url=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/player\/embed\/nx-s1-5825045\/nx-s1-9780683\" data-metrics-ga4='{\"category\":\"audio\",\"action\":\"audio_embed\",\"storyId\":\"nx-s1-5825045\",\"mediaId\":\"nx-s1-9780683\",\"title\":\"A stranger&amp;#39;s compliment helped her feel confident after chemo\",\"type\":\"ondemand\"}'><b class=\"button-inner\"><b class=\"audio-tool-label\">Embed<\/b><\/b><\/button><\/p>\n<div class=\"audio-embed-overlay\">\n                        <label class=\"embed-label\"><br \/>\n                            <b class=\"label\">Embed<\/b><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/label><br \/>\n                        <b class=\"embed-url embed-url-touch\"><br \/>\n                            <code><b class=\"punctuation\">&lt;<\/b>iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/player\/embed\/nx-s1-5825045\/nx-s1-9780683\" width=\"100%\" height=\"290\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" title=\"NPR embedded audio player\"&gt;<\/code><br \/>\n                        <\/b>\n                    <\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"audio-tool audio-tool-transcript\">\n                  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/transcripts\/nx-s1-5825045\" data-metrics-ga4='{\"category\":\"audio\",\"action\":\"audio_click_transcript\",\"storyId\":\"nx-s1-5825045\",\"mediaId\":\"nx-s1-9780683\",\"title\":\"A stranger&amp;#39;s compliment helped her feel confident after chemo\",\"type\":\"ondemand\"}'><br \/>\n                    <b class=\"audio-tool-label\">Transcript<\/b><br \/>\n                  <\/a>\n                <\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"storytext\" class=\"storytext storylocation linkLocation\">\n<div id=\"resg-s1-123366\" class=\"bucketwrap image large\">\n<div class=\"imagewrap has-source-dimensions\" data-crop-type=\"\" style=\"--source-width: 3088;--source-height: 2320\">\n<p>            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3088x2320+0+0\/resize\/1100\/quality\/50\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F77%2F35%2Fcd25b5cd452e8649985bdfe7e6f5%2Fpat-gentile-2.jpeg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3088x2320+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F77%2F35%2Fcd25b5cd452e8649985bdfe7e6f5%2Fpat-gentile-2.jpeg\" class=\"img\" alt=\"Photographed from about the shoulders up, Pat Gentile smiles for the camera. Behind her is a street lined with houses and buildings.\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"credit-caption\">\n<div class=\"caption-wrap\">\n<div class=\"caption\" aria-label=\"Image caption\">\n<p>\n                Pat Gentile smiles today. In 2010, while she was undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer, a stranger in a convenience store told her she looked &#8220;fabulous&#8221; and helped her feel normal and seen.<br \/>\n                <b class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><br \/>\n                    Pat Gentile<br \/>\n                <\/b><br \/>\n                <b class=\"hide-caption\"><b>hide caption<\/b><\/b>\n            <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>            <b class=\"toggle-caption\"><b>toggle caption<\/b><\/b>\n    <\/div>\n<p>    <span class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><br \/>\n        Pat Gentile<br \/>\n    <\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>In her late 50s, Pat Gentile was diagnosed with breast cancer. During chemotherapy, she lost all her hair, so she began to wear a wig.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;But that wig \u2014 and I only had one wig \u2014 that wig was itchy, and it was annoying,&#8221; Gentile said. &#8220;So at some point, I decided when I sort of had a crew cut look that it was time to give the wig up.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Her first time driving to work without the wig, Gentile felt exposed. As the dean of a local college and a frequent spokesperson, she worried about how people would respond.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I didn&#8217;t want to get the &#8216;pity eyes&#8217; that people give you when you&#8217;re sick,&#8221; Gentile said. &#8220;I wanted to just keep moving.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div id=\"resnx-s1-5825045-100\" class=\"bucketwrap internallink insettwocolumn inset2col \">\n<div class=\"bucket img\">\n                  <a class=\"imagewrap\" id=\"featuredStackSquareImagenx-s1-5816421\" href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/05\/15\/nx-s1-5816421\/how-a-nurse-helped-a-mom-through-open-heart-surgery\" data-metrics-ga4='{\"category\":\"recirculation\",\"action\":\"story_recirculation_click\",\"clickType\":\"inset box\",\"clickUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/05\/15\/nx-s1-5816421\/how-a-nurse-helped-a-mom-through-open-heart-surgery\"}'><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/865x865+169+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F4d%2F79%2Ffa5d8dd9415086c4e6ee61a137f2%2Fbarb-barnes-right-and-her-daugther-autumn-barnes-left.jpg\" data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/865x865+169+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F4d%2F79%2Ffa5d8dd9415086c4e6ee61a137f2%2Fbarb-barnes-right-and-her-daugther-autumn-barnes-left.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/865x865+169+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F4d%2F79%2Ffa5d8dd9415086c4e6ee61a137f2%2Fbarb-barnes-right-and-her-daugther-autumn-barnes-left.jpg\" data-format=\"jpeg\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" alt=\"Barb Barnes (right) smiles with her daughter, Autumn Barnes (left).\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/a>         <\/p>\n<div class=\"bucketblock\">\n<h3 class=\"slug\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/series\/1134955065\/my-unsung-hero-from-hidden-brain\">My Unsung Hero <\/a><\/h3>\n<h3><a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/05\/15\/nx-s1-5816421\/how-a-nurse-helped-a-mom-through-open-heart-surgery\" data-metrics-ga4='{\"category\":\"recirculation\",\"action\":\"story_recirculation_click\",\"clickType\":\"inset box\",\"clickUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/05\/15\/nx-s1-5816421\/how-a-nurse-helped-a-mom-through-open-heart-surgery\"}'>How a nurse&#8217;s kind words changed the course of one woman&#8217;s life<\/a><\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKETBLOCK\" -->\n      <\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKET IMG\" -->\n   <\/div>\n<p><!-- END ID=\"RESNX-S1-5825045-100\" CLASS=\"BUCKETWRAP INTERNALLINK INSETTWOCOLUMN INSET2COL \" --><\/p>\n<p>She stopped at a convenience store to pick up some coffee and lunch. As she shopped through the aisles, a woman approached her. Fifteen years later, Gentile still remembers what the woman said.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;She said, &#8216;Not everybody could wear a hairstyle like that. You look fabulous.'&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Gentile was stunned. She managed to say, &#8220;Thank you,&#8221; before the woman walked away. Then she went back to her car, letting the words settle.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I sat there for a while, sort of embracing this wonderful, kind thing that this person had said to me,&#8221; Gentile said.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;And it really made a turning point for me that made me feel seen, made me feel normal and gave me the courage to get to work and just get started.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div id=\"resnx-s1-5825045-101\" class=\"bucketwrap internallink insettwocolumn inset2col \">\n<div class=\"bucket img\">\n                  <a class=\"imagewrap\" id=\"featuredStackSquareImagenx-s1-5686589\" href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/01\/26\/nx-s1-5686589\/neighbors-and-church-members-transformed-the-home-of-a-man-with-terminal-cancer\" data-metrics-ga4='{\"category\":\"recirculation\",\"action\":\"story_recirculation_click\",\"clickType\":\"inset box\",\"clickUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/01\/26\/nx-s1-5686589\/neighbors-and-church-members-transformed-the-home-of-a-man-with-terminal-cancer\"}'><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1090x1090+0+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F03%2F03%2Fec4c3506499cb0177429f64757bc%2Fphoto-1-larry-maxfield-family-photo.jpg\" data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1090x1090+0+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F03%2F03%2Fec4c3506499cb0177429f64757bc%2Fphoto-1-larry-maxfield-family-photo.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1090x1090+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F03%2F03%2Fec4c3506499cb0177429f64757bc%2Fphoto-1-larry-maxfield-family-photo.jpg\" data-format=\"jpeg\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" alt=\"Larry Maxfield moved his terminally-ill brother, Marty, to live closer to him in 2007. Neighbors helped make Marty's house a warm, welcoming home.\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/a>         <\/p>\n<div class=\"bucketblock\">\n<h3 class=\"slug\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/series\/1134955065\/my-unsung-hero-from-hidden-brain\">My Unsung Hero <\/a><\/h3>\n<h3><a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/01\/26\/nx-s1-5686589\/neighbors-and-church-members-transformed-the-home-of-a-man-with-terminal-cancer\" data-metrics-ga4='{\"category\":\"recirculation\",\"action\":\"story_recirculation_click\",\"clickType\":\"inset box\",\"clickUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/01\/26\/nx-s1-5686589\/neighbors-and-church-members-transformed-the-home-of-a-man-with-terminal-cancer\"}'>Neighbors and church members transformed the home of a man with terminal cancer<\/a><\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKETBLOCK\" -->\n      <\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKET IMG\" -->\n   <\/div>\n<p><!-- END ID=\"RESNX-S1-5825045-101\" CLASS=\"BUCKETWRAP INTERNALLINK INSETTWOCOLUMN INSET2COL \" --><\/p>\n<p>Gentile donated the wig and never looked back. She completed chemotherapy and has had no evidence of cancer since 2011.<\/p>\n<p>Thinking back to that encounter, she credits the woman&#8217;s kindness as a turning point. She says it inspires her to see other people the way that stranger saw her and to acknowledge what they might be going through.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I think about this woman a lot. I still see her in my mind&#8217;s eye. I only saw her for a few seconds, but she made such an impression on me that I&#8217;m kinder because of her. So I&#8217;m very grateful.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/hiddenbrain.org\/myunsunghero\/\" target=\"_blank\"><em>My Unsung Hero is also a podcast<\/em><\/a><em> \u2014 new episodes are released every Tuesday. To share the story of your unsung hero with the Hidden Brain team, record a voice memo on your phone and send it to myunsunghero@hiddenbrain.org.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tags\">\n<ul>\n<li><a class=\"tag tag--story\" href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/tags\/125944406\/breast-cancer\">breast cancer<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"tag tag--story\" href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/tags\/157707989\/chemotherapy\">chemotherapy<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"tag tag--story\" href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/tags\/515172476\/hair-loss\">hair loss<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"TAGS\" --><\/p>\n<div class=\"share-tools share-tools--secondary\" aria-label=\"Share tools\">\n<ul>\n<li class=\"share-tools__service share-tools__service--facebook\"><button class=\"fbStorynx-s1-5825045\" data-share-facebook='{\"storyId\": \"nx-s1-5825045\" }' data-metrics-ga4='{\"category\":\"share\",\"action\":\"share\",\"clickName\":\"facebook\"}'><b class=\"share-tools__service-name\">Facebook<\/b><\/button><\/li>\n<li class=\"share-tools__service share-tools__service--flipboard\"><button class=\"storynx-s1-5825045\" data-share-flipboard='{\"storyId\": \"nx-s1-5825045\" }' data-metrics-ga4='{\"category\":\"share\",\"action\":\"share\",\"clickName\":\"flipboard\"}'><b class=\"share-tools__service-name\">Flipboard<\/b><\/button><\/li>\n<li class=\"share-tools__service share-tools__service--email\"><button class=\"share-tools__email-link\" data-story-id=\"nx-s1-5825045\" data-metrics-ga4='{\"category\":\"share\",\"action\":\"share\",\"clickName\":\"email\"}'><b class=\"share-tools__service-name\">Email<\/b><\/button><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"SHARE-TOOLS SHARE-TOOLS-SECONDARY\" ARIA-LABEL=\"SHARE TOOLS\" --><br \/>\n<!-- END ID=\"NEWSLETTER-ACQUISITION-CALLOUT-DATA\" DATA-NEWSLETTER=\"{&amp;QUOT;NEWSLETTERID&amp;QUOT;:&amp;QUOT;NEWS&amp;QUOT;,&amp;QUOT;TITLE&amp;QUOT;:&amp;QUOT;UP FIRST&amp;QUOT;,&amp;QUOT;MARKETINGHEADER&amp;QUOT;:&amp;QUOT;SIGN UP FOR NPR&#039;S UP FIRST NEWSLETTER&amp;QUOT;,&amp;QUOT;FREQUENCY&amp;QUOT;:&amp;QUOT;EVERY DAY&amp;QUOT;,&amp;QUOT;SHORTDESCRIPTION&amp;QUOT;:&amp;QUOT;THE STORIES YOU NEED TO START YOUR DAY, HAND-PICKED FOR YOU EVERY WEEKDAY. 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