We decided to finish up all the paperwork and then go see Sam, so around 12:30pm we were directed to Room 414. Knocking at the door, we found Beth there to greet us.

Sam was sitting up in the bed. He was on an IV, his face and arms and hands were still very swollen, and one eye was almost completely swollen shut. But as we entered the room he smiled and said, “Oh my Lord God, look who’s here!”

Then he said, “Thank you for comin’, please sit down.” As we sat on the empty bed across from him, with Maggie holding Layla, Sam said to Beth, “Bethany, sweetheart, will you step outside and don’t let nobody in till I’m finished talkin’ to these folks.”

“Okay, daddy, nobody gets past me till you say so,” Beth said, and by her tone I could tell she meant it.

Sam reached over to us with his one hand that was free of the IV and said, “Y’all please draw near to me now. I’m still real weak and what I need to say is just too important. I want you to hear every word.”