When Bob Hollis got a call that his wife had given birth in Florida, he rushed from Texas to meet his newborn daughter—only to learn that Mary, his wife, had died during childbirth. Heartbroken, Bob focused on bringing their baby home. But at the airport, he was told he couldn’t fly with a four-day-old infant without a birth certificate and that newborns must be at least seven days old to fly.
With no one to turn to, Bob remembered Mrs. Sticks, a kind 82-year-old hospital volunteer who had comforted him earlier. He called her, and she immediately took him and the baby into her home. Bob stayed with her for over a week. She not only helped him care for the baby but also supported him through his grief, even helping arrange Mary’s body’s return.
They formed a deep bond, and Bob came to see her as the mother he had lost.
After receiving the birth certificate, Bob returned home but kept in touch. He visited her annually with his daughter until she passed away. At her funeral, he learned she had left him part of her inheritance.
In her honor, Bob founded a charity with her children—and eventually married her oldest daughter, Shirley, who became a loving stepmother to his six kids.
The lesson: Acts of kindness can change lives. Bob never forgot Mrs. Sticks’ compassion, and her generosity inspired him to give back and build a life filled with love.
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