Restaurant opens early for 3-year-old customer with leukemia

By Nicole Pelletiere

A Texas restaurant opened its doors early for a pint-sized regular who can't be around other patrons due to a cancer diagnosis and a weak immune system.

Adelaide Stanley enjoys the brunch at J. Wilson's in Beaumont. When she drove by the comfort grub spot with her family recently, she asked if they could stop in for a bite.

"She said, 'Daddy can we go to that restaurant?'" mom Vanlam Nguyen recalled to "Good Morning America." "He started tearing up and said, 'When you get better and you're not sick anymore, we can go eat.'"

"A simple common cold would put her into the hospital," she added. "As a parent with a kid who has leukemia, I try to keep her in a bubble."

Vanlam Nguyen

Adelaide Stanley was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia on her birthday, July 1, 2019. The 3-year-old was surprised with a brunch at J. Wilson's in Beaumont, Texas, after the restaurant opened early for her, her parents Jordon Stanley and Vanlam Nguyen and siblings Zoë, 11 and Alice, 1.

Adelaide was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia on her birthday, July 1, 2019.

She began chemotherapy three days later, Nguyen said.

Vanlam Nguyen

Adelaide Stanley is seen at the age of 1 at J.Wilson's restaurant in Beaumont, Texas.

Because of her weakened immune system, Adelaide cannot be exposed to many germs. She also needs to steer clear of crowded places like restaurants, Nguyen said.

After her daughter requested to have a meal at J. Wilson's, Nguyen's friend reached out to its owner, John Wilson.

"They used to come to brunch here all the time before she was diagnosed with leukemia," Wilson told "GMA" of Adelaide and her family. "They had been in confinement pretty much since July."

Wilson said that on Jan. 26, he and his staff opened their doors at 8:45 a.m. -- an hour and 15 minutes early so Adelaide could enjoy her favorite dish, scrambled eggs, bacon and homemade biscuits.

They also gave the restaurant a deeper cleaning and decorated in Adelaide's favorite color, pink.

Vanlam Nguyen

Adelaide Stanley is seen at the age of 2 with her sister Zoë at J.Wilson's restaurant in Beaumont, Texas.

"Seeing her smile, just knowing we could give her a little sense of normalcy was great...it's something we all felt fulfillment from," Wilson said.

Adelaide enjoyed brunch that day with her mom, dad and sisters Zoë, 11 and Alice, 1.

Vanlam Nguyen

Adelaide Stanley was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia on her birthday, July 1, 2019. The 3-year-old was surprised with a brunch at J. Wilson's in Beaumont, Texas, after the restaurant opened early for her, her parents Jordon Stanley and Vanlam Nguyen and siblings Zoë, 11 and Alice, 1.

"It meant so much...she had a fantastic time. They did not have to go above and beyond like that," Nguyen said.

Vanlam Nguyen

Adelaide Stanley was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia on her birthday, July 1, 2019. The 3-year-old was surprised with a brunch at J. Wilson's in Beaumont, Texas, after the restaurant opened early for her.

J. Wilson's even took care of the bill which added to the emotional moment, Nguyen said.

Nguyen added that doctors hope to give Adelaide a clean bill of health by Sept. 2021.