Thank you so much, I’m so grateful you did what you did. Can I give you a hug?” Tears streaming down her face, Beth handed the flowers to Maggie and came over to the side of my bed and fell into my arms. A big hug ensued.

She cried and cried and said she was an only child and that her mom had died years back and that her daddy was all the family she had.

I didn’t know what to say, but as she recomposed herself Beth said, “My daddy, he wants to see you, Mr. Jim. He says he’s got to tell you and Maggie somethin’ before you go. He made me promise him to tell you to come visit him in his room before you go and to bring Layla. Okay? Is that okay? ‘Cause he says it’s real important.”

I looked over at Maggie and we agreed to come to Sam’s room right after we checked out.

Beth said goodbye and that she’d tell Sam we had agreed to come.

The door closed behind Beth and Maggie said, “Wow.”

Dr. West dropped in soon after, and around 11:30am the head nurse came in and said we were free to check out.