“Samuel, come here,” Sam’s father called one day. Sam hesitated. He sensed something serious. His dad never used his full name unless something was wrong.
“Yes, father,” Sam said as he sat on the couch.

“Listen, son,” his father began. “I have… something I need to tell you. Stay very calm.” Sam nodded. “Your mother will not be returning to our house.”
“Never ever? Why?” Sam asked“Because she flew to heaven, son.”

Six-year-old Sam thought his mom was on a trip. He waited days for her return. When she didn’t come back, he called 911. “Hello 911? This is Sam… my mom hasn’t been home for days… Dad says she went to heaven, but I’m afraid she got lost.”

The dispatcher, John Lewis, paused. “Why don’t you write her letters and send them with red balloons? She’ll see them and find her way.”
Sam sent letters each month but got no reply. So he called 911 again. Soon after, police arrived at his home with red balloons. Encouraged, Sam wrote again—and this time, got a letter back saying how much his mom loved him. His father wrote it, hoping to help Sam heal.