Bob Hollis was running late. His heart pounded as he rushed through the airport, barely making it onto his flight to Florida. The 40-year-old had just received a call from a hospital telling him that a baby girl had been born—and he was listed as the father.
At first, he thought it was a prank. But he quickly realized the truth. His wife, Mary, had gone to Florida for a short holiday, a trip Bob had secretly planned while he renovated their home. It was supposed to be a surprise for her—a nursery and an extra room for their growing family. But nothing had gone as planned.
Mary had gone into labor early. And she hadn’t made it.
The words from the doctor still echoed in his head. “Your wife suffered complications during childbirth. We did everything we could, but… I’m so sorry.”
Tears welled in Bob’s eyes, but he forced himself to focus. He would grieve later. Right now, his baby needed him.
Bob and Mary had always dreamed of having children. When they couldn’t conceive, they turned to adoption, opening their hearts and home to three wonderful kids. But they never stopped hoping for a child of their own. When Mary finally got pregnant, they were overjoyed.
Now, all that joy had turned into sorrow.
When Bob’s plane landed, he wasted no time renting a car and heading to the hospital. As he stepped into the intensive care unit, he was greeted by an elderly woman, Mrs. Meredith Sticks. She was a hospital volunteer, 82 years old, recently widowed, and full of warmth.
“Mr. Hollis, I’m so sorry for your loss,” she said gently. “Your wife was a strong woman. She loved this baby with all her heart.”
Bob’s voice broke. “I— I don’t know what to do.”
Mrs. Sticks placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. “You take her home. You love her. And when you need help, you call me.”
She handed him a slip of paper with her phone number. Bob tucked it into his pocket, not knowing how important that number would become.
The hospital released the baby into his care, and he headed straight to the airport, eager to return home with his daughter. But just as he reached the boarding gate, a stern-looking woman at the counter stopped him.
“Sir, is this your child?” she asked.
“Yes, she’s my daughter,” Bob replied, shifting the baby in his arms.
The woman frowned. “She seems too young to be on a plane. How old is she?”
“Four days old,” Bob answered, his patience wearing thin. “Now, can I get through?”
The airline employee shook her head. “I’m sorry, sir. Airline policy states that newborns must be at least seven days old to travel. You’ll also need to present her birth certificate.”
Bob’s stomach dropped. “You’re telling me I have to stay here for three more days? I don’t know anyone in Florida. I have no place to stay!”
“I’m sorry, sir, but it’s the policy. Next, please.”
Bob stepped away from the counter, frustration bubbling inside him. He was exhausted, grieving, and now stranded in a city where he had no support.
Then, he remembered the slip of paper in his pocket.
With trembling fingers, he dialed the number. “Hello, Meredith? I— I need your help.”
Within an hour, Mrs. Sticks arrived at the airport. She took one look at Bob’s tired face and gently said, “Come on, son. Let’s get you and that baby home.”
Bob was stunned by her kindness. She barely knew him, yet she welcomed him into her home without hesitation. Over the next few days, she not only gave him a place to stay but also helped him adjust to caring for a newborn. She rocked the baby when she cried, taught Bob how to change diapers, and even helped him arrange for Mary’s body to be transported home.
“You don’t have to do all this,” Bob said one evening, watching as Mrs. Sticks cradled his daughter.
She smiled. “I lost my husband not long ago. Helping you and this little one—it gives me purpose.”
Bob felt a lump in his throat. “You’re an angel.”
“Just an old woman who believes in kindness,” she replied.
The days passed quickly. When Bob finally received his daughter’s birth certificate, he was cleared to fly home. But as he packed his bags, he realized how much he would miss Mrs. Sticks.
“I don’t know how to thank you,” he told her.
“Stay in touch,” she said simply. “That’s thanks enough.”
And he did. Bob called her often, sending pictures of his daughter as she grew. Every year, he traveled back to Florida to visit her, bringing his little girl along.
As the years passed, their bond deepened. Bob learned more about her life—her four grown children, seven grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. She became like a mother to him, and he became like another son to her.
Then, a few years later, Mrs. Sticks passed away.
Bob was heartbroken. At her funeral, a lawyer approached him.
“Mr. Hollis,” the lawyer said, “Mrs. Sticks left you something in her will. She considered you family.”
To his shock, she had left him part of her inheritance—just as she had for her own children.
Overwhelmed, Bob gathered her children and proposed an idea. “Let’s use this money for something good. Let’s start a charity—one that helps kids in need, just like she would have wanted.”
Together, they founded the Meredith Sticks Foundation, a charity dedicated to helping orphaned and foster children. And as fate would have it, through this journey, Bob grew close to Shirley, Mrs. Sticks’ eldest daughter.
Over time, their friendship turned into love, and they eventually married. Shirley became a mother to Bob’s six children, and their blended family carried on the legacy of kindness that started with one elderly woman’s act of generosity.
What did we learn from this story?
- Kindness leaves a lasting impact. Mrs. Sticks’ kindness changed Bob’s life forever. He never forgot her generosity and ensured her legacy lived on.
- Giving back is powerful. Bob, having grown up in foster care, always wanted to help other children. His experiences led him to adopt and later start a charity in honor of Mrs. Sticks.
- Family isn’t just about blood. Sometimes, the people who support and love us the most are those we least expect. Bob lost his wife but gained a new family through Mrs. Sticks and her children.
In the end, one act of kindness changed multiple lives, proving that love, compassion, and generosity can create ripples that last a lifetime.
