Upon learning where "Kate" came from, Shirley e-mailed Roland a letter describing how taken her sister had become with Kate, as well as asking how she could buy a yellow lab for the Stahlman family--especially for the daughter, Allison.

"Katie was so in tune with my sister's (Blanca's) sadness, that she immediately went to her and put her head on my sister's knee," Shirley (last named unknown) said in her e-mail correspondence with Roland. "My sister focused on Katie instead of the missing towers as the ferry arrived at the financial center.

"I noticed how my sister's face changed while she was dealing with the yellow lab," Shirley wrote. "My sister fell in love with the yellow lab ... the dog cannot replace her (Allison's) dad, but it can help ease the pain."

Roland was so touched by Shirley's letter that he and his wife immediately made arrangements to donate one of their yellow labs, Water Witch, to the Stahlman family.

Besides donating the 3-year-old, Roland also went about contacting his network of other Coulee Creek yellow lab owners and friends who collaborated to secure a complimentary flight for the lab, from Delta and Delta Connection airlines along with a year's worth of dog food, as well as free or discount local veterinary services. They also secured donated kennel construction and electric fencing around the family's home.

Stahlman's widow recently e-mailed the Rolands and others involved in gracing the family with yellow lab and all the donated accessories.

"I never expected how much love, kindness and support would come from the state of Texas," she wrote. "I know Eric is up in heaven looking down and saying thank you for caring for my children. All of you have given us a renewed hope in mankind and we now have new extended family."

Mrs. Stahlman, as of Sunday, e-mailed the Rolands, expressing Allison's excitement and her decision to re-name the lab "Starlight" because "she is truly going to be a shining star for the family."

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