Bob Hollis was racing against the clock.
At 40 years old, he had just received a call from a hospital in Florida: a baby girl had been born, and he was the father.
Bob and his late wife had always dreamed of building a family. Though they had adopted three children before—since adoption was a cause close to their hearts—they had been expanding their home to prepare for more.
Having grown up in foster care himself, Bob was deeply committed to providing a loving home for as many children as possible.
“If I can help these kids grow into their best selves, then I feel I’ve truly made a difference,” he often told his wife.
Bob also had two grown children from his previous marriage to Ellen. Two years after that marriage ended, he met Mary, his second wife. After marrying, they struggled to conceive naturally.
But finally, Mary became pregnant.
With her due date two months away, Bob booked a trip for Mary to Florida—a place she’d long wished to visit.
However, shortly after arriving, Mary went into labor and was rushed to the hospital. Tragically, she did not survive childbirth.
Bob was urged to travel immediately to Florida to be with his newborn daughter.
When he landed, he rented a car and headed straight to the hospital.
At the ICU, he met Meredith, an 82-year-old volunteer and recent widow.
“What happened?” Bob asked as he entered her office.
“Please, have a seat, Mr. Hollis,” Meredith replied softly.
“I’d rather stand,” Bob said, his voice breaking.
“I’m so sorry for your loss,” she said gently. “Your wife faced complications during delivery.”
Bob wept openly, while Meredith silently offered her support. After a moment, she spoke again.
“I understand you’re here for the baby. But I need to make sure you’re prepared to care for her,” Meredith said kindly.
“Call me if you need anything,” she added before Bob left.
Later, at the airport boarding gate, Bob faced another hurdle. The attendant refused to let him board with his newborn.
“Is this your child?” she asked.
“Yes, she is.”
“I’m sorry, but she’s too young to fly. How old is she?”
“Four days.”
“You need to provide her birth certificate and wait until she’s at least seven days old before traveling.”
Bob protested, “So I’m stuck here? I have no family nearby, and I must get home today.”
“It’s policy,” the attendant said dismissively, moving on to the next customer.
Preparing for a long night at the airport, Bob remembered Meredith’s kindness at the hospital. Reluctantly, he reached out.
“Hello Meredith, I need your help.”
Compassion, he realized, still existed.
Bob ended up staying at Meredith’s home for over a week before finally returning to Texas.
He was amazed by her generosity and always referred to her as an angel. Even his baby seemed to respond warmly to Meredith’s presence, smiling whenever she heard her voice.
During his stay, Bob learned Meredith had four grown children, seven grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
After receiving the baby’s birth certificate, Bob was allowed to board his flight home. But he kept in touch with Meredith long after.
At her funeral, a lawyer contacted Bob with surprising news: Meredith had left him a portion of her estate, just as she had for her own children.
In honor of her selflessness, Bob donated the inheritance to a charity he co-founded with Meredith’s children—continuing her legacy of kindness.
