Hard-Up College Girl Spends Last Dollars To Visit Dad In Hospital

A hard-up college girl spent the last dollars to her name to travel 5000 miles and visit her dad in hospital - before people moved by her story online helped cover her flight home and rent. Father Benjamin Bratton Jr., 57, immediately lit up as his daughter, Amanda, 24, appeared at his bedside in Anderson, South Carolina, on November 30. Benjamin had developed a fever of 105 and severe pneumonia, and having heard how bad her father was feeling, Amanda was determined to do all she could to help him feel better. Amanda admitted she was “short on cash,” but spent her last few dollars to catch a red-eye flight from Hawaii to Atlanta, and then an Uber to the hospital itself. It was only minutes before she entered the hospital that Amanda let her mom know she was there, who proceeded to capture the loving reunion on video. The joy on Benjamin’s face was clear for all to see, and the following day, hospital staff said he was already looking much better. Amanda was also able to spend a few more days with her family, from Hartwell, Georgia - though she had only $100 to her name and still needed to pay to return to Hawaii and make her rent. Having posted the video of her surprise online, people moved by her story asked if they could help and chipped in to cover her flight home as well as the next month’s rent.