North Fork Woman With Cancer Meets Food Truck Vendor With Heart Of Gold

NORTH FORK, NY — A trip to the "Today" to see Brett Eldredge was a dream come true for country music fan Danielle Meraz of Southold.

Meraz, who has been bravely battling cancer, was thrilled when her dear friend Penny Maffetone got tickets for the show Monday; the pair were the first online in the wee hours of the morning — and had a great view of Eldredge's performance.

"The show was great. I love his voice," Meraz said.

But along the way, she and Maffetone made other new friends, including Jesse, a member of the band — and a food truck vendor who touched their hearts.

"Yesterday when Penny Maffetone and I went to Manhattan, we had a great time," Meraz said on Facebook. "We met an incredible gentleman who has a food truck. He serves free bagels, coffee, tea, etc. to anyone there for the 'Today' show."

And that's not all, she said. Any donations he receives are given selflessly to the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, she said.

"He's been doing it for years," she said.

Bruno, the food truck vendor, gave Meraz an umbrella on the rainy day; he, too, is a cancer survivor, Maffetone said.

And the time they shared is a testament to the little moments in life, sometimes with complete strangers, that can end up meaning everything.

"We talked about cancer. When we left, it was big hugs. He made us promise to come back to see him, and said he'd be praying for me. Our big brother Bruno. The nicest guy," Meraz said.

Photos courtesy of Danielle Meraz.