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When Kelly arrived at the hospital, the head nurse told her that Mac was awake and wanted to see her as soon as she got there. She walked into his room where he lay confined to a bed. Her eyes welled with tears as she saw her beloved uncle hooked to machines, looking weak and frail. She stood by the door for a moment, composing herself, then took a deep breath, put on her bravest face, and stepped inside. She managed to muster a smile when he sensed her presence by his bed and opened his eyes.
“Hey, pretty lady,” he said in a barely audible voice. He turned his left hand over and extended his shaking fingers in her direction. She clasped his whole hand in hers and held tightly.
“Hey, Uncle Mac. How’re you feeling?”
“Like I’ve been run over by a truck.”
“Well, you just take c
