Family. But the thing i lost most was i had a big collection of baseball cards. Reporter marshall has collected since 1971 60 was empire dad who died 15 years ago umpire dad who died 15 is ago. The love of baseball friends deep in his family. That is what using the cards hurts. Is something that has really bonded me. I am a big baseball fan. Reporter his story may have touched stacy the most. She also has a love for the game. I lost my first has been in 2000 and to a 13 year battle with brain cancer. The one thing that brought him joy was going through his baseball cards. I knew it would mean more to him than anyone else. This brings back such because i remember ralph thing with the greenwood braves. Reporter with these cards being given from one come to another, she said this is what her husband would have wanted. I think he would be thrilled to know where those cards have gone. For her to have never met me and to think i would be worthy of receiving such a gift that im sure her husband thought of them as, it just shows the true human spirit of people rallying in this time we have all faced over these last five weeks. It has brought out the best in South Carolina. Thank you so much. Reporter in columbia, daniel bynes, news 19 , wltx. After the story aired, a man from new jersey was touched as well. He reached out to news 19 saying he wants to get his the tragedy changed our state forever. Is something many are still recovering from emotionally. That is why minnesota native rows making decided rose minke mcgee delivered her sweet potato pies to the church. Reporter numbers at emmanuel were in for a Sweet Surprise following the bible study. You are getting money, visitors, but no sweet potato pie. Reporter 86 sweet potato pies were delivered to the Church Thanks to rows rose mcgee. She said she typically passes them out during the more than Luther Martin luther king jr. Weekend. Shooting on june 17 to do it. I wanted to somehow express love. And you for your kindness. Reporter the presiding elder says he was thankful for the act of kindness toward mother emmanuel. The nourishment by the price is most helpful pies is most helpful. Reporter members are enjoying it. It hits the spot. I feel the warmth of knowing that love wendy to making the pie went into making the pie. Thank you to minnesota. Reporter each pie came with a home to add more love to be treat. Today remember to eat, pray, and love as he partake in making a difference. For there is much to be proud of. Enjoy. Reporter loren certainly pies are one way to help. Music is another. In honor of the palmetto state for the very first time in history the university of South Carolina marching band and Clemson University tiger band performed together at the Football Game. The bands shared the field during halftime paid trip it to the victims killed. The group played a tribute to a song called s see strong s. C. Strong. The Branch Directors said they thought this was a wonderful way to do something for the state. Both usc and clemson have paid tribute to the victims all season long. That was such an amazing sight to see. Wounded county town of new zion a like was changed. He put his own life at risk to make sure a man he had never met lived. He said he was just at the right place at the right time doing what he had to do. Reporter 19yearold nick floyd doesnt consider himself a hero. Anybody else would have done the same thing. I think i did what i had to do. Reporter but when you hear what he did, you can judge for yourself. Last weekend, nick was driving when four people flagged him down. They had just been involved in an accident. One car was on the bridge and another on the water. So was the driver. My guess was he rolled down his window and the water started rushing in. The car was completely submerged and i think i had a choice. And tried to find a door handle. I opened the door and pulled him out of it. I dont know if he was in the right state of mind. He couldnt really speak to me. Reporter there is no doubt without nicks actions, james would have died that they. No one else on the bridge could swim. That is make waiting to make sure everybody was okay. His father couldnt be more proud. He has always been a good kid. I am real proud of him. Very proud of him. To jump in that cold water in february, i am very proud of him. It was cold. It was really cold. Honestly, you cannot really think in that situation. Classed crossed my mind was the man might die. I didnt want that to happen so i did what i could. As we mentioned, nick jumped into the water without hesitation. In the process, he damaged his phone. When at t heard about this, they wanted to help. They presented nick with a brandnew phone shortly after the accident. Very cool. He certainly deserves it. Now another great example of a support system within the midlands is the story of 5year old gabe kennedy. His only way to communicate was a tablet app. One of our r viewers decided that was one of unacceptable and paid for the app in full. Here is savannah levins. That really tugs at your heart. With 5yearold gabe kennedy and you would know why a Community Came together to help them. Unable to speak his home like, we brought you a story when the tablet he used was no longer covered by insurance. His going voice was going to be taken from him. His mother said donations from our viewers became flooding in. Thank you doesnt seem like enough to say. I am truly thankful that people wanted to help and get. It means give. It means a lot to us. Reporter the 3000 app was paid for in full. Every day i see he is getting better. Reporter gabe s 8yearold sister hannah says she is grateful too. It talks for him. Know what he wants without it. Reporter now they will. Little gabe who can now go to kindergarten will keep fighting. He has taught me a lot about perseverance and determination. He has increase my faith in god. Reporter savannah levins, news 19 , wltx. We have some grade viewers. Great viewers. When there is a call to action, you guys reach t to anybody who need to. Still ahead, graduation is a day to celebrate with family one man made a home to walk a great reunion at a once in a lifetime event. For one High School Senior it couldnt have been any more special moment. News 19s Sonia Gutierrez takes [ applause ] i would hate to have missed this. You only get one chance in a lifetime to do this. Reporter a chance for Sergeant Ray Bell hale and his daughter almost didnt get. I honestly have to come to terms that you were not going to be here. Reporter Sergeant Hale was deployed six months ago. He got back to South Carolina on thursday and has been staying in a hotel to surprise his entire family at the graduation. Nervous, scared. Why are you here . How did you get here . Reporter writing schuyler graduated with 400 other arena. While family and friends enjoyed the simile from the stand, Sergeant Hale hid behind the curtains waiting for his daughters name to be called. These were some of their first moments together. Accommodation of tears and laughter had them both speechless a combination of tears and laughter had them both speechless. Writing schuyler sign up for the National Guard in charleston. The sergeant has 14 days left to enjoy his family after the big surprise. [ applause ] Sonia Gutierrez, news 19, wltx. Sergeant hale said he is so thankful for everybody who made this surprise possible. Especially his wife, kathy davis, and his commander. Many parents like to dress up with their children for halloween. To surprise his son. My name is loren to do. I am in the u. S. Army. I can stationed in hawaii and i just did a ninemonth tour to korea. By seven by 7yearold son isaiah thinks i am come to visit sunday on the first. I flew in earlier to surprise him tonight at his School Halloween dance. Reporter while isaiah did the same thing any 7yearold was do, he had no idea. Separated from his father since last december, his mother said his first thought in the morning is how long it will be until they are reunited. He says mommy guess what, 10 more days. Nine more days. And he kept going down and down. It was hurtful not to say its today. Ive always wanted to see him and he had to work. Reporter while characters danced, First Sergeant duke got into position. And prepared to reveal his identity. Two more days, isaiah. I knew it was him by his voice. [ cheering ] reporter shirley said she will now give the boys the space they need to make up for lost time. He is an amazing kid. He deserves it. I think this is something he will never forget. This is my first time being gone away from him. I wasnt here physically, emotionally and mentally i was always there. News 19 , wltx while home, duke spent time with his 18 monthold. Nice story. Coming up next, a midlands teen is not letting an illness we will see her take on usc welcome back. Go syndrome isnt something everybody has heard on. 15yearold Serena Williams is the only African American in the country who is known to have the ililess. The dawn staley brought her a game. Here is a look at what she calls the best day of her life. [ laughter ] reporter she is softspoken in her seat. Spectacular. She is a much different person on the court. I cannot believe you. Reporter the 15yearold challenged dawn staley to a one onone. I challenge you on basketball. Reporter and daily accepted stately accepted. Many who would crumbled meeting their here. Hero. Board with go syndrome born with goat syndrom at birth she was given only a year to live. Watching her play and hearing her dad tell her story, she was confident. Reporter her parents are proud she is fat long enough to she is very happy and we are thanking god for these moments. Reporter softspoken or loudmouthed on and off the court she is a fighter. It is a ray of hope to anyone that has cant do anything in their life. Reporter and staley is a dream believer. Getting ready for your season at w. Ow. Reporter giving opportunities for plenty of exposure to the game. She is invited to practice. Yes, you will have tickets. She can sit on the bench as well. Reporter with just one condition. You cannot talk trash to the officials and our opponents. Reporter joyce koh, news she doesnt have to tell everybody. Weve talked everybody. Got to love dawn staley. The carolina clemson Football Game is the big day for all fans but it was especially big for one fan. Sonia gutierrez caught up with him at his 70th consecutive rivalry match. I ve big thursday. That is always special. I was sad when they moved the game to the end of the season. But it didnt affect my life. When they moved to gain to clemson also i made it to clemson this past year. [ laughter ] and have all those years. Reporter only a long time gamecocks been will remember that. Fan will remember that. The first couple games i was a student at the university. Reporter he hasnt missed a game since 1946. Was a sportswriter. That i got paid to come to the ballgames. I resent i have to pay now. [ laughter ] reporter he was even honored i the Gamecocks Club as a legendary than. Fan. What makes him the proudest is my four kids are my greatest achievement. We are very proud. Why father is the best gamecocks fan ever. Reporter his daughter says she is not as committed. 70 consecutive carolina clemson games. Reporter there is a lot that is a lot. It is exciting and fun and i am lucky totohave bebe able to come to that many games. Reporter Sonia Gutierrez, news 19, wltx. Van neumann says next year might be the i say it wont be the same without you. Still ahead the story of meet his do you remember the story of a Sumter County 8yearold who couldnt wait to serve our country because of a medal of honor recipient . He wrote a letter to wltx and then you make me want to be a soldier when i grow up to, carpenter. Savannah levins has the story. I am seven years old. Reporter secondgrader says he gave a hero after watching a news 19 special on metal of honor recipient, carpenter last year. It was such an aspirational story. At that time looking at what he went through. Reporter carpenter received the honor afghanistan to save a fellow marine. He decided to write kyle and better. You are my hero and you make me want to be a soldier when i grow up. Reporter sincere is doing this interview and hope this letter will reach the american hero. What he doesnt know is that it already has. We just have somebody he wanted to give you something. Lets see. [ gasp ] oh my goodness. We did get in touch with kyle. He did read your letter. Oh my goodness. The personalized signed photo from his hero and then another surprise. There is one more thing. Because mr. Carpenter wanted to Say Something as well. Reporter a visio video i am grateful for any word or handshake of encouragement people give me. Reporter a heartfelt gesture from a hero to a young boy. I am appreciative you did that because it helps keep me motivated to continue doing the things i do. Reporter sign semper fi always faithful. Thank you for the picture. And you thank you for being my hero. That is so sweet. What a year it has been. With all of you 3 scene on this was the 3 this was the scene on garners ferry road on the morning of this was the scene on garners ferry road on october 4 after hours of heavy rainfall water swept up cars and rushed through homes. This was the first day of what would be deemed a 9000 year flood. Our chopper captured some unbelievable pictures after the flooding from the destroyed bridges roads to homes floating in water. This is a look off of homes from monticello road. You can see the truck sitting in feet of water. They rose up past the windows. Sadly, images like we were where the normal. Were going to examine the ongoing Recovery Process i am Darcy Strickland along with jim gandy who is going to take us through the events of this historic flood. Jim, we were first here on that first day when the rain started it makes sense that we are wrapping this up this year because it took an amount of extraordinary circumstances to produce the rainfall that we saw. Let me carry you through what was going on leading up to that. We had been concerned about hurricane walking walking but, what was happening in the opposite direction was an area of low pressure. It was right here and it was sinking towards the southeast. And it was stationery across the coast. These would change over the course of 24 to 36 hours. By the time we got to friday, the lowell was tapping moisture from the coast. Rains. Meanwhile, the hurricane is bahamas and as it did, it began to factor in. By saturday night, this upper level low was capping the moisture. And as it continued to move away it was able to tab some of the moisture coming from the hurricane. The rains persisted. This is what the forecast looked like earlier in the week. Looking for sunday afternoon, this was amazing. It was not going to hit South Carolina, but there is going to be moisture coming in producing rain, and when all was said and done, this is how much rain fell across South Carolina. This is an analysis of the National Weather service. You can see here we have heavy rain. But saturday into sunday morning right here, from the columbia area many places saw as much as 15 up to 26 inches of rain. By far, historical by any measure. Darcy. Thank you so much. The irony of us having so much water became the problem. Much of the midlands could not drink their rain water. It prevented it from entering the treatment plant. It cost 35 million gallon away. They assisted local officials in repairing the dam by using a helicopter to drop 1 ton sandbags into the breach. The plan worked and they were able to supply customers with clean taking water. Thats drinking water. Drinking water. We had people all over rescuing people. Over 187 people from buildings and cars and the evacuated 464 people from structures because of the floodwaters. Michael crow, was on the boulevard as he rescue people from the cars its one of the images residents will not forget. Theyve just set a line tween the cars. That guy just waited in there, you go to they have been trapped in their cars for two hours after the water pushed them off of the road. A couple of utility trucks, but what you can see is that they are working right now bringing that letter in closer than we have seen him do before. And, in an attempt official somebody else out, i have talked to three people who have and helping them wade through all of the horizontal pressure, the man that we told you was trapped earlier his daughter was here he said he was being fist out. They put the latter we think is his car. She was standing next to me. And it looks like they had the latter there. And, on top that fire truck it looks like they are about to start bringing him down. What we are hearing is that they are still moving and he may be alive. They have that structure ready to bring him over. She says, but they told her that it was him and he was still moving. They got him out of the car at after 3 1 2 hours of being trapped a terrifying situation church to work, and they now have to deal with all of this. And just down the road and forth acres it water rushed into home on kilbourne roads chris hopper spoke with one of the victims that day. Is a pretty dramatic theyre putting this woman on a stretcher because she needs assistance in that shows you how high the water levels are they have to get on the roof of a twostory home to get this woman from inside. Thats exactly what we are seeing. The pores and everything were flooded. How bad . It is about, let me see. The water at the top of the fence line which is pretty high, we got everything propped up on our beds in the brought the dogs are propped up. Were you worried wouldnt be able to get out quick yes, we were picked my backyard is flooded. And your kids are safe . Yes. Thank god for that. Who rescued you . Know these guys we got up and they said they were hungry and my floors were flooded. We are glad that you are safe. The amount of damage cannot even be explained in words you have to see the pictures to understand lee county suffered an enormous amount of damage chad shows us the destruction o