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Michigan pizza restaurant makes special delivery to Indianapolis cancer patient

Posted at 10:11 AM, Oct 22, 2018
and last updated 2018-10-22 10:11:23-04

INDIANAPOLIS -- Steve's Pizza, a restaurant in Michigan, doesn't normally deliver pizzas. 

But the restaurant made a big exception last week for an Indianapolis cancer patient. 

David Dalke made the call to Steve's Pizza last weekend, telling the employees that the restaurant was a favorite of his daughter and her husband when they lived in Battle Creek, Michigan years ago. 

Julie and Rich Morgan live in Indianapolis now, where Rich was battling cancer.

The couple planned to drive to Battle Creek last month to get a slice from Steve's. but Rich became too sick and went into hospice in Indy. 

Dalke said he called Steve's Pizza, hoping the restaurant would send a note to the couple. But the manager, 18-year-old Dalton Shaffer, had a better idea.

Shaffer told Dalke he's closing early to deliver the pizzas from Battle Creek to Indianapolis, a drive that takes 3 1/2 hours each way.

"It meant the world to them, and they were just extremely shocked that someone would do that, and happy," Dalke said. 

Dalke said at first, Shaffer wouldn't even accept any money for the pizza.

Rich Morgan died Saturday after a two-year fight with cancer, his wife told CNN. She wrote the following statement about her husband:

"He fought so hard and dealt with his illness with incredible grace, courage and humor. He was a man of faith and integrity who was always driven to do the right thing. There are no words to express how deeply we loved and admired him, and how much he loved us in return. Thank you so much for the outpouring of prayers and support."