For almost a decade Charlie Hicks kept an unchanged routine in Pensacola, Florida. Without exception, every day I ate a simple meal at the Shrimp Basket restaurant: a bowl of chewing gumeither. This was a daily habit Key that allowed them to save his life. When he didn’t show up at the restaurant for the first time in years, the chef noticed him and went looking for him.
Hicks, 78, is Air Force veteran and had recently retired from a second career as an accountant.
He sat at the restaurant having lunch and watching baseball. The cook Donell Stallworthwho became his friend, still remembers the first time he treated him.
“When baseball was over, there were no sports he liked anymore, so we started talking about everything else.”Stallworth said. “He committed himself to me and I to him,” he said in an interview Washington Post.
Beginning of September Hiccup didn’t show up for lunch and the absence did not go unnoticed.
Denise Gallowayone of the managers had her emergency number. She called him and found out he was sick. He even offered to bring him food. something Hiccup accepted on one condition: to leave it outside his door so as not to infect it.
Several days passed and Hiccup still didn’t return.. When Galloway tried to call again, no one answered. When I found out about the situation, Chef Stallworth didn’t hesitate. “I grabbed my keys and left,” he said.
So the cook went to Hiccup’s apartment and knocked on the door. There was no answer. The moment he wanted to leave, He heard a barely audible cry for help. The door was unlocked.
Inside he found Hiccup lying on the floor: he had fallen, He was severely dehydrated and had two broken ribs..
“When I arrived I didn’t even know what day it was or what time it was” Stallworth said.
While the cook stood over him trying to give him water, Galloway called 911. “I don’t know what would have happened if Donell hadn’t shown up.”Hicks himself later admitted this. The story was originally reported by the local network WEAR TV.
Hicks’ recovery took a long time: he spent two months between the hospital and a rehabilitation center. During this time, the restaurant staff often visited him and brought him his favorite dish.
At the same time, another problem arose: The contract for his apartment was about to expire and the rent was set to rise..
Casey Corbin, general manager of Shrimp Basket, said he noticed an empty apartment right next to the restaurant. He managed the rental and got the owner to take the contract to the rehabilitation center so I could sign it right there. “For us Hiccup is like the local adoptive grandfather“, he explained.
The man never married and had no children. He always thought of himself as a loner. However, Today, the Shrimp Basket team considers him part of their family. When they found out he needed a walker, Corbin bought one at a thrift store and everyone signed for it.
For Thanksgiving, The restaurant organized a meal for employees and family, with “Grandfather” as the central guest.
“We will do it every year”Corbin said. Additionally, the chain’s president, Jeff Brooks, made the announcement Hicks get free gumbo for life. That same day, the store offered free gumbo with every purchase in his honor.
Despite the impact, the veteran remains surprised. “It’s not like I found the cure for cancer.”he said, adding: “I just fell in my apartment.”
Still, he said he was touched by the number of people who inquired about his health.
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