Widower Is Barred from Boarding a Flight with His Newborn Baby, 82-Year-Old Meredith Helps Him — Story of the Day
Bob Hollis, a 40-year-old widower, traveled to Florida to pick up his newborn daughter after his wife, Mary, died during childbirth. Upon arriving at the airport to fly back home, Bob was denied entry with the baby because she was too young to travel without a birth certificate. With no family in Florida, Bob contacted Mrs. Sticks, an 82-year-old widow he had met at the hospital. She offered him help, welcoming him and his daughter into her home for over a week while he awaited the proper documents.
Mrs. Sticks became a comforting presence for Bob, offering emotional support and assisting with funeral arrangements for Mary. Bob, who had always wanted to adopt, felt a deep connection to Mrs. Sticks, seeing her as a mother figure. When he finally returned home to Texas, he kept in touch with her, visiting every year with his daughter until she passed away.
At her funeral, Bob learned that Mrs. Sticks had left him part of her inheritance. In her honor, Bob donated the money to a charity he founded with her children. Over time, Bob grew close to Mrs. Sticks’ daughter, Shirley, whom he married. Together, they raised six children, honoring the kindness and love that Mrs. Sticks had shown him during a difficult time.
