A social media video featuring Sister Camila Lopez, a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who is fighting cancer, has racked up millions of views, leading to a fundraiser for the family's medical and housing expenses.
Jimmy Darts, a popular influencer known for his random acts of kindness, met the Lopez's at a Walmart in Arizona while Sister Camila Lopez and her mother Melissa Lopez were meeting a friend to shop for a new dress. Darts approached them, asking if they had lost some cash.
"I said, 'no, no, no, but maybe another lady over there,'" Melissa Lopez said.
Darts then proceeded to introduce himself and reward them $500 for their honesty.
"Jesus loves you so much," Darts said while handing the Lopezes the cash.
"Quite literally the last thing we were expecting," Sister Lopez said, reflecting on the moment.
After Darts inquired about how they were doing, Melissa Lopez opened up about how Sister Lopez's cancer had returned and how her husband had lost his job.
The first video ended with Melissa Lopez saying her dream is for her kids to be healthy and happy.
During the next couple days, they were invited by a member of their Stake Young Women's Presidency to participate in a social media fast. This was meant to cover the fact that Darts had started a fundraiser for the Lopezes' cancer fight and housing expenses — thousands donating to support them.
When Darts met with them a few days later, he surprised them with $70,000 raised, as seen in the second video.
"When he told us the amount, I just started to sob," Melissa Lopez said.
After battling with retinoblastoma at four weeks old, the metastatic thyroid cancer that she developed at 18 years old had returned.
Melissa Lopez described Sister Lopez's successful fight against cancer as a child.
"It was ugly, it was hard," Melissa Lopez said. "We're like, 'hallelujah, she made it.'"
Sister Lopez had been attending survivors' clinics at Phoenix Children's Hospital since her childhood cancer treatments. During her final clinic at the hospital at 18, doctors told her cancer had returned as metastatic thyroid cancer — meaning it had spread beyond her thyroid to the lymph nodes in her neck.
Sister Lopez underwent a 10-hour surgery to remove her thyroid and lymph nodes, with many praying, fasting and putting her name in the temple.
"We felt that power and she recovered so well," Melissa Lopez said.
Sister Lopez then continued seeing doctors every six months and on her most recent visit, was informed that cancer had returned for the third time.
"It was heartbreaking — but again, we're having all these people pray for us," Melissa Lopez said. "...Very generous that Jimmy found us and we've just felt all of that love a lot."
While thousands were donating to help Sister Lopez and her family, she continued serving others as a service missionary.
Sister Lopez loves thinking about the impact she could have on people on both sides of the veil.
She sees those opportunities in the work she does each week, from being a teacher's aide at a special education school to volunteering at the food bank and the occasional bonus project wherever she is needed.
"At home, I do service as one of the social media specialists in my stake," Sister Lopez said.
"What I've learned over the years is definitely that even if you think you don't have an impact, it is more than likely that you do," Sister Lopez said. " If you're even praying for them, that's enough."
Sister Lopez says to always keep the faith and in anything you’re going through, turn to the Savior.