"You can lose sight of the importance of all these things and this big movie, but that's really what's so important is that she recognizes herself in a character like that," the singer told PEOPLE

Idina Menzel‘s voice has touched the lives of many people.

The Frozen star paid a visit to a special fan at a children’s hospital in San Diego and couldn’t help but feel inspired by the encounter.

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“I met with this little girl who had leukemia,” Menzel told PEOPLE at the 5th Annual Reel Stories, Real Lives Benefitting MPTF event on Thursday. “I think she was in remission. I said, ‘What is your favorite part about Frozen?’ She said, ‘Elsa.’ I said, ‘Why?’ And she said, ‘Because she lives in isolation too.’ ”

The singer added, “I had to keep myself from not losing my s— right in front of this young girl. You can lose sight of the importance of all these things and this big movie, but that’s really what’s so important is that she recognizes herself in a character like that.”

Menzel, who has a six-year-old son, Walter, with ex-husband Taye Diggs explained the importance of teaching her son the ins and outs of giving back to the community.