The Curtis family donated the dog they had won at the Michael Hoefflin Gala to Manny, a child with cancer

I've seen miracles, lots of them, because I work with children who have cancer.

When Manny was 6, his doctors did surgery to remove a cancerous brain tumor; he did well for a year and a half and then relapsed at the age of 8.

I saw Manny at the "Evening Under the Stars" gala for the Michael Hoefflin Foundation for children's cancer. Looking dapper in his suit and tie, his smile tender, he reminds me of Yoda from Star Wars: wise and capable, small and unimposing.

Manny had wanted a dog for quite some time. His parents were about to get him one over a year ago, just before the relapse that lead to requiring a bone marrow transplant.

The gala featured two of the most adorable, charcoal grey brush coat Shar-peis you've ever seen. Soft little wrinkled faces teased the crowd into irresistible bids. Manny had spent the earlier part of the evening playing with the puppies when they were on display. His parents were ready for him to have a dog but under the circumstances, the reality of purchasing this dog was beyond their reach. As the bidding began Manny watched, always smiling, but his parents knew he was secretly wishing it was him who could have this soft, wrinkly companion.

The winners of the puppy, after a short but heartfelt discussion, decided that with a new baby of their own, they would have little time to keep a contented pup. They decided to donate the puppy to a child with cancer.

Miracle

So there sits Manny, eyes widened, fixed on the puppy - the perfect puppy who has been bred to be hypoallergenic, just right for a child with a weakened immune system. As the bidding ends, the man who originally came up with the idea to give the puppy away happened to be sitting at the table next to Manny's. He turned to Manny and his parents to ask, "Would you like a puppy?"

Of course they said "Yes!" The puppy was placed in Manny's arms. Ever gentle and patient in speech, he smiled and said, "Miracle, I want to name him Miracle."

Manny's mom called the breeder when she returned home to find out more about the pup and its needs. Here's what she found out: This particular pup was very feisty and was the first one to crawl out of the crate, only to meander into a puddle near by and began to drown. Fortunately, they resuscitated the puppy, which by then appeared to be dead. After surviving such an ordeal the breeder said of the dog, "My kids named that puppy Miracle!"

Kids with cancer see miracles everyday; this one was also for the rest of us.