Woman texts wrong number asking if she can bring food for ill boy — but the stranger was exactly who they needed
When Abby Fink misdialed one digit, she didn’t expect the stranger on the other end to step up for a 4-year-old fighting for his life.
In Arizona, a mother thought she was texting a friend, but instead, her message reached a total stranger, who ended up saving a sick child he had never met. According to CNN, Abby Fink had meant to text her church friend, Alex Jakeman, about bringing dinner over. She typed, "Hey brother Jakeman, this is sister Fink, we are bringing you dinner tomorrow. I was wondering what time would be a good time to bring it over," and hit send. But the message never reached Alex; instead, it went to a man named Bill.
The text was meant for the Jakeman family, whose 4-year-old son, Noah, was in the ICU at Phoenix Children’s Hospital. He had suffered a seizure that caused vomit to enter his lungs, leading to pneumonia and a collapsed lung. Noah lives with Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome, a severe type of epilepsy, along with cerebral palsy, brittle bones, and developmental disabilities. As per a 2024 review, LGS is marked by frequent, treatment-resistant seizures, and it often comes with cognitive impairment, developmental delays, and behavioral issues. The authors highlight that these symptoms deeply undermine the quality of life (QoL), touching daily routines, social interactions, schooling, and emotional well-being.
When Bill received the message, he first joked, replying, "Oh, what are you bringing me? I don’t like seafood." Fink was briefly confused, realizing she must have typed one digit wrong. I was confused at first because the reaction I got from him was not one of someone with a child in the ICU," Fink told CNN. However, when she explained that she was trying to reach a family whose son was fighting for his life, Bill’s tone changed immediately. Fink told ABC15 Arizona, "Then it was immediately, 'How can I help?' and I was like, 'Well, just pray for Noah.' And he said, 'Well, I don’t really pray, but I can help with donations, food, etc,'" and he did.
He started a fundraiser on Facebook (now-deleted), asking friends to donate money, cards, and even blood to help Noah’s family. He contacted local groups and encouraged people to send gifts and letters so that when Noah woke up, he could "see himself surrounded in love from the community." Though Bill told CNN he isn’t religious, he said, "All we have is each other, so it’s our job to look out for each other." Fink was amazed at such a selfless gesture. "I was thinking to myself, no, that’s not what people do. Because it’s hard to find good, genuine people who want to serve and help others," she said. Bill, a single father, said his biggest reward was showing his teenage son what compassion looks like.
"My biggest reward for this is having an opportunity to teach my son the lesson of charity," he said. Noah’s mom, Alex Jakeman, was overwhelmed by the support. "We were just really touched and in awe that a perfect stranger — that all he knew was that a little boy was in the ICU — just wanted to jump into action," she told ABC15. Due to his actions, Noah's condition slowly improved. At the time, he was out of the ICU but was still recovering at Phoenix Children’s Hospital. "I told Bill, 'I don’t know if you believe in God or not, but I believe you were sent here to help this family,'" Fink said. "I told him he was an angel."
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