Six-year-old Sam was confused when his mom didn’t come home. His father gently told him she had “flown to heaven,” but to Sam, it sounded like a trip. After waiting for days and growing worried, he noticed his father always cried when asked, so Sam decided to call 911 himself for help.
When dispatcher John Lewis picked up, Sam tearfully said, “My mom hasn’t come home. Dad says she went to heaven, but I think she’s lost.” John, moved by the boy’s innocence, didn’t have the heart to tell him the truth. Instead, he gently suggested Sam write letters to his mom and send them on red balloons so she could see them from heaven.
Sam began sending a balloon-letter every month, writing about missing her hugs, his dad’s sadness, and how the house felt different. One day, he got a letter back that read, “I love you so much, Sam.” His face lit up with joy, finally feeling that his mom had heard him.
What Sam didn’t know was that the letter was from his dad, with help from John and other officers. They wanted to protect his heart until he was ready to understand. Their simple act of kindness didn’t take away the pain, but it gave him comfort — showing how compassion can bring healing even in the hardest moments.