FEATURELOOK
beds. “If it makes one child happy, then our work is worth it,” Holly said. “That’s why we do this! Being in the hospital is so hard on them.” Returning to the hospital is also hard on the Barróns, because it’s a place that carries memories of Keaton’s five and a half years of treatments. Holly is comfortable on the 10th floor, however, because the K Club raised enough money to renovate it into an area called Keaton’s Clubhouse. Nearly By Amy Dee Stephens every week, the Barróns provide gifts for patients who need a pick-me-up or have reached a milestone such as a birthday or Meet America’s Kindest Family! The Barróns of Edmond graduation while undergoing treatment. were selected from over 500 nominations, and now, their The Barróns spread kindness outside the hospital as well. family portrait is on the cover They hold sock and underwear of Parent Magazine. drives for the Homeless Alliance. A friend nominated Luke and In November, they celebrate World Holly Barrón and their boys, and Kindness Day by inviting people although they gave the possibility to chalk messages of kindness in little thought, a team of celebrity Edmond and Oklahoma City. The judges was impressed with the K Club also helps pay the funeral R AI S E selflessness of the Barróns. Over costs for parents who have lost a the summer, the family learned child to pediatric cancer. PEO PL E they had won the America’s “When a door opens to show Kindest Family contest and flew kindness, we walk through it,” Holly B O OKS to New York for the photo shoot. said. “How could we say no? We TH AT S PA R K CARING The contest result was publicly believe in what Keaton started, and and G I V I N G announced on the Today Show in it’s how we teach our other three September. boys about their brother. Keaton is Although it sounds fun and still part of our family.” fluffy, the Barrón’s story is Holly admits that their aggressive compelling; a story of generosity schedule of events is exhausting, and sacrifice and Legos. but they feel compelled to carry on It began when the Barrón’s with Keaton’s mission. “We never oldest son, Keaton, started in a million years thought Keaton the K Club, a kindness club, wouldn’t beat cancer,” Holly said. because of his inborn desire “Don’t ever think I’m okay, because to make everyone happy. His I’m not. We are lost without him, but goal was to bring kindness to these acts of kindness help us feel others; an incredible feat for a close to him.” child enduring cancer treatment According to Holly, the title of himself. Although he lost his America’s Kindest Family is actually a battle to leukemia in 2018, at the age of tribute to Keaton—the best person she’s eight, his K Club continues through the ever known. “The rest of us aren’t the five tireless work of his family. kindest people on earth, but collectively, “He was so selfless,” said Luke. “He we are working to honor Keaton’s shining thought about making everyone else example. He never complained. He’d get happier. He was going through the most in the car to go to the clinic and be sweet,” difficult and trying times of his life, and he Holly paused to contain her emotion. just put others before himself.” “Keaton wasn’t that way because of us. Keaton’s one-dollar membership fees He was a gift to us that we were privileged Keaton Barrón continue to be used to purchase Legos enough to take care of.” for children living in a hospital. Every To join the K Club and support local month, the Barrón family hosts a Lego children fighting cancer, please visit party at Oklahoma Children’s Hospital, giving the patients kclubkindness.org a break from treatment and a toy to play with back in their
America’s Kindest Family T RY O N A N E W T R A D I T I O N T H I S T H A N KS G I V I N G
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of our 2021 cover contest
T H E B A R R Ó N FA M I LY Luke and Holly, with sons Holden, Reid, and Conley, tell their story on page 144.
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