Editor:

I am a hospice nurse and travel all over Baldwin County. In my wallet is everything I own that identifies me and represents all my financial information: eight credit cards, my licenses, including my Social Security card and nursing license. It would be devastating for someone to have access to this information.

Late last Wednesday, after spending some time in the hospital and still feeling quite ill, I stopped at the Fairhope Walmart after work. I shopped for necessities and went home. The next day, still not feeling well, I went Back to work and, after a few hours, I got very thirsty and stopped for some water. I could not find my wallet. I began to panic and began searching under the seats, etc. When I couldn’t find it, I began to cry. Right then my cell phone rang. It was my insurance agent. She asked if I was OK and if I was missing anything?

Kind of stunned, I said, “Well yes, I suppose I am.”

She then told me she had just received a call from a Mr. Williams and that he had found my wallet in a shopping cart at Walmart and had it with him. He was smart enough to look through my belongings to find a way to contact me and knew the insurance company would be able to contact me. So that is what he did.

I immediately call Mr. Williams, who without hesitation, said he would meet me whenever and wherever I chose. He suggested meeting me in the Walmart parking lot. Within 15 minutes, I was looking into the face of this precious and kind man who handed me my wallet and said,” You can check it; everything is there.”

I replied that I already knew it was all there.

We then hugged each other and, in parting, he said, “My wife had her wallet stolen some time ago, and I know how that feels so I didn’t want anyone else to feel that.”

I hugged him again.

You know, in this world of financial depression and personal dishonesty, etc., it is quite rare to come across someone who has a kind and honest heart, who treated a complete stranger like a member of his own family. It is amazing when you think how it could have turned out and the timing of it all.

My job as a hospice nurse is to make sure those in my care don’t suffer. It felt good for someone else to give that gift to me. Thank you, Mr. Williams. You are truly a hero in my book. I just wanted you to know how much that meant to me. I will never forget what you did for me. God bless you.

Fairhope