It was getting late for Bob Hollis.
A hospital in Florida had just called the 40-year-old with unexpected news: a baby girl had been born—and he was the father.
At the time, Bob was busy renovating his home. He and his wife didn’t have any biological children together, but they had adopted three, united by a deep commitment to adoption and a dream of expanding their family further.
As a foster parent himself, Bob was thoughtful and intentional about welcoming children into his care. He had made a promise in his youth to take in as many as he could.
Talking to his wife one evening, he said, “If I can help those kids grow into the best versions of themselves, I’ll feel like I’ve truly made a difference.”
Bob also had two biological adult children from a previous marriage to his ex-wife, Ellen.
Two years after the divorce, he met Mary. They fell in love quickly and married just a few months after they started dating. However, their hopes of having a child together didn’t come easily.
Eventually, though, their persistence paid off—Mary became pregnant.
Wanting to give her something special, Bob arranged for her to take a trip to Florida, a place she had always dreamed of visiting. She was seven months along at the time.
Tragically, soon after arriving, Mary went into early labor and was rushed to the hospital.
Sadly, she passed away during childbirth. The hospital notified Bob of her death and urged him to come immediately, as the newborn baby girl had survived.
Bob flew out right away. After landing, he rented a car and drove straight to the hospital where his wife had died.
At the hospital, he met an 82-year-old volunteer working in the intensive care unit—a kind elderly woman who had recently lost her own husband.
He approached her office and asked, “What happened?”
“Please take a seat, Mr. Hollis,” she said gently.
“I’d prefer to stand,” he replied.
“I’m very sorry for your loss,” she said quietly. “Your wife suffered complications during childbirth.”
Overwhelmed with grief, Bob broke down in tears. The woman, Mrs. Sticks, remained silent, giving him space. After a few minutes, she cleared her throat and continued.
“As I understand, you’re here to take the baby,” she said. “But I need to make sure you’re prepared to care for her.”
Then she added kindly, “Don’t hesitate to call me if you need anything.”
Later, when Bob arrived at the airport boarding gate, the woman at the counter stopped him.
“Is this your child, sir?” she asked.
“Yes, of course,” he answered.
“I’m sorry, but she looks very young. How old is she?”
“She’s four days old. Can we board now?” Bob asked.
“I’m afraid not, sir,” she replied. “You’ll need her birth certificate, and she has to be at least seven days old to fly.”
Bob’s tone shifted. “So I’m supposed to stay here for several more days? I don’t know anyone in this city—I was supposed to be home today.”
“I’m very sorry,” she said, turning to the next passenger. “That’s the policy.”
With no other options, Bob remembered Mrs. Sticks—the gentle volunteer from the hospital. He hesitated, not wanting to trouble her, but had nowhere else to turn.
“Hello, Meredith,” he said when she picked up the phone. “I could really use your help.”
“Compassion still exists in this world,” he reminded himself.
Bob ended up staying over a week at her home before finally returning to Texas.
Even his newborn daughter seemed comforted by her—her face would brighten at the sound of Meredith’s voice. Touched by her kindness, Bob often referred to her as a real-life angel.
During his stay, Bob learned that Mrs. Sticks had four grown children, seven grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
When he finally secured the baby’s birth certificate, he was cleared to fly home—but he never lost contact with the woman who had helped him when he needed it most.
At her funeral, a lawyer approached Bob with unexpected news: just as she had done with her own children, Mrs. Sticks had left part of her estate to him.
In her memory, Bob donated the inheritance to a nonprofit organization he founded in partnership with her children—as a tribute to her remarkable generosity.