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Pizza Shop Makes Its First And Only Delivery To Cancer Patient Over 3 Hours Away

October 18, 2018

A Michigan pizza shop made its first and only delivery for a cancer patient in Indiana, 225 miles away.

Julie and Rich Morgan spent just two years living in Battle Creek, and Steve's Pizza left a lasting impression on them.

More than two decades after they left the city, the couple was planning to revisit Steve’s Pizza for Julies 56th birthday. Instead, Rich, who has a form of salivary gland cancer, went to the hospital, where he ended up in the intensive care unit. He was told he had days, maybe weeks, left to live.

On October 16, Steve’s Pizza has made another impression on the couple, this time because of an extraordinary act of kindness by one of its employees.

"Sometimes a slice of pizza is more than it appears to be! Read on for the story of an epic pizza delivery and the unbelievable kindness of a stranger," Julie wrote on her Facebook page.

Credit: Julie Morgan

"25 years ago we lived in Battle Creek, MI. We were young and money was tight but every pay day, Rich would pick up Steve's Pizza for dinner. I can't possibly describe how delicious this pizza is - but several moves and all these years later, it is still the gold standard and we've never found a better pizza yet. Rich has frequently critiqued other pizza as 'good but, it's no Steve's.'

Rich and I recently planned a weekend getaway to Michigan to celebrate my birthday. We talked about seeing the leaves and the lakeshore, but that was secondary to our planned visit to Steve's. Instead, I took Rich to the ER where he landed in ICU for five days, and where we learned the news that his valiant cancer battle was coming to an end.

Rich is home under hospice care and we are enjoying every minute reminiscing and visiting with family and friends. Unbeknownst to us, my dad contacted Steve's Pizza and spoke to Dalton, a manager there. He told Dalton a little bit about our situation and asked if the shop might send a friendly text or card to us.

Without hesitation Dalton asked what kind of pizza we wanted, and told my father he would bring it to us (by the way, Steve's doesn't deliver). My dad clarified that we were in Indianapolis, at least three and a half hours away from Battle Creek. Dalton said he understood that, and would leave after he closed the store. And so, while Rich and I slept, at 2:30 AM, Dalton rolled into our driveway, left the car running and delivered two extra special pizzas to my waiting family. He told them we were in his prayers, and offered to help in any way he could. My dad offered to put him up in a hotel, but he refused and immediately left for the return trip home because he had to work the next day.

I am beyond overwhelmed and humbled by this act of genuine kindness. Dalton brought our family so much joy - and the best pizza in the world - at a really difficult time. While 'thank you' hardly seems adequate - from the bottom of my heart, thank you, Dalton from Steve's Pizza in Battle Creek, MI for making your epic middle of the night pizza delivery!"