It is the truest spirit of giving in a story told the day after the most celebrated day of giving in a season of giving, where lives intersect in unexpected ways that remind us of the best in who we are as human beings.

A brother and sister, 15-year-old Stephanie and 18-year-old Kevin Hudon, are both facing cancer. Stephanie's bone cancer has spread to her lungs and her brother is currently undergoing chemotherapy for Hodgkin's lymphoma.

A teacher at the high school both Stephanie and Kevin attend, Christine Monahan, had been spearheading a fundraiser to financially help the family through this overwhelming time. Last month, Nathan Burditt, a student who attends the same high school, spent 34 hours in line to buy the coveted and hard-to-come-by PlayStation 3. Monahan said she was kidding when she suggested to Burditt that he donate the newly-acquired gaming system to a raffle to help the Hudon family.

But Burditt took her seriously and donated the popular PlayStation 3. The PlayStation 3, one of the it gaming systems this year, attracted $21,000 dollars in raffle ticket sales. Before the PlayStation 3, Monahan had expected to raise $500 dollars during the raffle. Ticket buyers to the raffle, knowing of Burditt's unselfish act of compassionate charity, wrote his name, not their own, on the raffle tickets they bought. Because of this, Burditt won back the PlayStation 3 he had donated.

The simple acts of kindness for a brother and sister struggling to survive cancer made national news. Enter comedic actor Adam Sandler. Upon hearing about Stephanie and Kevin, Sandler sent a PlayStation 3 loaded with games, signed DVDs, jerseys and an autographed Longest Yard poster to them to help make their Christmas a little more joyful.

Meanwhile, Burditt, who has won the PlayStation 3 in the raffle he donated it to, wanted to turn around and sell it to make even more money for the Hudon family. Everyone is telling the young man he has done so much more than anyone ever expected from any one person that he should keep it now. The raffle ticket buyers wanted him to own it after he so willingly gave it up to help someone he did not even know. It is reported that Monahan is keeping the gaming system boxed at her house until Burditt makes a decision on whether he will accept it for himself, or to what purpose he intends on using it to help again.

When someone is diagnosed with cancer, I believe each of us holds the secret wish that we could make the cancer go away. But we know we cannot, and yet we want to do everything we can do for them. Easing the journey, with a donation of time or money is one way, as is filling the life of a cancer patient with as much joy and laughter as possible, and if it distracts them from the current reality, all the better. Burditt, Monahan and Sandler did just that for Stephanie and Kevin Hudon of Manchester.

I discovered a website called Quackwatch. The website's mission is to be a guide to health fraud and making intelligent decisions.

As a cancer survivor I was bombarded with well meaning people telling me about different alternative therapies, a cure they heard on television, a diet that can keep your body alkaline instead of acidic to kill the cancer, and a place you can go to cure cancer that you can only receive treatment somewhere in Mexico.

I can't blame anyone for bringing these things to my attention but most of this information is not scientifically proven. I know that even if its not scientifically proven it can still be of benefit, however stories about one person who say this or that cured their cancer does not mean much to me.

I went with conventional therapy. I do think there is a place for alternative treatments so I'm not bashing them. However, we all know that there are those out there who are going to prey on a cancer patient's need for help. Those that write false books and make false claims to make money. It's unfair that we have to deal with this but that is why we need to be careful about what we believe when we read or see something on television that claims to be a quick cure.

One book that really angers me is a book written by Kevin Trudeau called Natural Cures "They" don't want you to know about. I didn't read the book but I did see the infomercial. They really do try and make it look like a legitimate setting of two professionals discussing a new book.

It is said that a heart cannot open until it has been broken. Kevin Paves, called Hollywood's hottest hair guru, was interviewed on the television entertainment news show Extra TV this evening, and as I watched I realized I was watching a human being of genuine and extraordinary kindness shaped by a moment of life-changing tragedy. When Paves was still a teen, his little nephew was born with severe birth defects and died shortly after birth. Pave shared, "At 17 years old, I was holding this still baby who was no longer with us, and I begged him to open his eyes, and I begged God to tell my why."

Paves has gone on to a large measure of success as a hairstylist to the stars, but he has given much in return. Eight years ago, he met and became close friends with Jessica Simpson. The friendship has taken both of them to Congress for Operation Smile, which provides surgeries for disfigured children around the world.

The two have also teamed up with Hair U Wear, a wig manufacturer, to help chemo patients by providing them with wigs and hair extensions. Pave speaks highly of Simpson, saying she has a heart of gold. He speaks humbly of himself. "We're not curing cancer or doing any of these things -- but we can help." Have you ever noticed the some of the best human beings are also the most humble? You can view the interview with Paves as a video feed or slide show at Extra TV.