What started off as a normal day for one and a difficult day for another turned into a lifelong friendship between two families. In November, Debbie Haar and her 9-year-old son, Cole, pulled into the drive-through lane of a Starbucks in Lake Elsinore, CA. They were having the difficult day.

The two were on their way to Children’s Hospital of Orange County for Cole’s chemotherapy treatment. In February, Cole and his family received the devastating news that he had leukemia. The family was told his cancer treatments would last for at least the next three years, if not longer.

Between the effects of the leukemia and the chemotherapy, Cole’s little body and his spirit have both had an incredibly difficult time managing his  disease this past year. But things started to look a little brighter for him on this one particular morning at Starbucks.

Tending the drive-through was 22-year-old barista Eddie Aldrete. He struck up a conversation with Mrs. Haar while waiting for her peppermint mocha and Cole’s apple juice to be prepared.

“I was just at the window, being happy and cheerful, and just trying to be as positive as I can be during the pandemic,” Eddie said to THE WASHINGTON POST. His cheerful, outgoing personality prompted Debbie to see if he would give Cole a pep talk, since Cole was in need of big-time encouragement at the moment.

“Could you tell Cole he’s going to kick cancer’s butt today?” she asked Eddie. Without hesitation, the barista looked through the back window where the boy was seated and said: “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. You got this, buddy.”

Aldrete’s off-the-cuff speech cheered Cole up so well, that the boy soon started requesting routine trips through Eddie’s drive-through to and from each chemo trip.

Cole had to receive his chemo treatments 4 days a week, and soon, everyone at this Lake Elsinor Starbucks knew the boy and his story. If Eddie was not working when Cole and his mom drove through, one of the other baristas would step in to deliver the pep talk. Eddie and Debbie exchanged numbers so he and Cole could FaceTime and talk daily.

“I decided I’m going to be a force of positivity for Cole,” Aldrete said. “I’ll be his cheerleader.”

If having leukemia wasn’t tough enough for a 9-year-old boy, the isolation due to the coronavirus and the need to protect Cole’s fragile immune system means extreme seclusion for the Haar family. “I cannot even explain how awful all of this has been. But Eddie is definitely a bright spot. He is a source of happiness,” Debbie said.

Cole’s family has become friends not just with Eddie, but also with his extended family (through the safety of FaceTime, of course). His father, Eddie Sr., even donated his own blood when he learned that Cole was in need of a transfusion.

“Cancer is a terrible disease. My mom and dad both passed away from cancer; both my sisters had breast cancer. I’ve been through it, and I’ve seen family members suffer from this terrible illness,” Aldrete Sr. said. “I knew Eddie always had a big heart and cares about other people, but for him to actually take the time to help somebody he didn’t even know is awesome.”

The entire Aldrete family is invested in Cole’s recovery, and are counting the days until he gets to ring the bell, signifying his cancer is gone and his treatments are over.

Of his connection with Cole and the Haar family, Eddie says: “It really is a friendship. Relationships can happen out of nowhere sometimes. I didn’t expect it at all.” He added that he views Cole as a little brother.

Cole had this to say about “big brother” Eddie: “He’s really nice, and he helps me get through the day by motivating me.” Debbie said that the bond between Eddie and Cole is so strong, Cole once exclaimed that the family should have Eddie move in with them.

“The world needs more Eddies,” said Debbie.

Click here to follow along with Cole’s cancer journey on the Instagram account his mom has set up.