It was early yesterday morning when Steve Foster slowly opened his eyes in a hospital bed at UAB Hospital in Birmingham. Just two days earlier, the 70-year-old husband, father, grandfather, and banker had undergone a life-saving kidney transplant. As his vision cleared and the fog of surgery began to lift, someone familiar stepped into the room—his daughter, Allison, the very person who had given him the gift of life for a second time.

Their reunion was emotional, tender, and filled with unspeakable love. In the quiet glow of that hospital room, surrounded by monitors and IV drips, the moment wasn’t about medicine—it was about family. And for the Fosters of Lineville, Alabama, this wasn’t just Father’s Day. It was the best Father’s Day of their lives.

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Rooted in Love and Hard Work

Steve Foster’s life has always been about two things: devotion to his family and dedication to his community. Married to his wife, Gail, for 44 years, he is a proud father to Russ and Allison, and a grandfather of five spirited grandchildren who light up his world.

He still serves as President and CEO of FirstState Bank in Lineville, a role he’s held for decades with integrity and pride. But when he’s not in a suit behind a desk, you’re more likely to find him in boots and jeans out on the family farm. Together, the Fosters run a 300-head cattle operation, manage chicken houses, and keep the land alive—something Steve calls both his therapy and his passion. Though his son Russ manages the daily operations now, Gail says Steve is counting the days until he can get back on his John Deere tractor.

“That’s his happy place,” Gail says. “He says the moment he’s strong enough, he’s going to climb back on that tractor—even if we have to lift him up there.”

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A Daughter’s Love in Action

For years, Steve quietly battled hypertension and diabetes, two conditions that slowly wore down his kidneys. By late last year, doctors told him it was time to choose: either begin dialysis or pursue a transplant. The family weighed the options, but for Allison, the choice was crystal clear.

“Dialysis might have kept him alive, but it would’ve taken so much from the life he loves,” she said. “And my dad—he’s the one who never misses a ball game, who shows up for everything. I wanted him to keep doing all those things—not just surviving, but really living.”

Allison, a school counselor at Ashland Elementary, underwent a thorough evaluation and learned she was a perfect match. But when she shared the news with her father, he hesitated.

“He didn’t want to take anything from me,” Allison explained. “He kept saying no, but I finally told him, ‘You can have my kidney, or I’ll give it to someone else—but someone is getting this kidney, and it should be you.’”

That sense of humor and fierce loyalty is classic Allison. And ultimately, it was her unwavering love that convinced Steve to say yes.

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A Father’s Day Like No Other

Last Friday, the transplant was successfully performed at UAB. Doctors marveled at the compatibility and resilience of both father and daughter. And by Sunday morning, the new kidney was already functioning beautifully.

When Allison walked into her dad’s hospital room yesterday morning, it was the first time the two had seen each other since surgery. No words were needed—their smiles, tears, and tightly clasped hands said it all.

“It’s a moment I’ll never forget,” Gail said, her voice trembling. “Just watching them look at each other… it was overwhelming.”

Now, just days post-op, both patients are healing well. Allison is expected to be discharged today, and Steve could be home shortly after. The family hopes to celebrate again—this time on the front porch of their farmhouse, surrounded by grandkids, cattle in the background, and a father made whole again by his daughter’s gift.

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More Than a Medical Miracle

This story is more than a successful transplant—it’s a reflection of the sacrificial love that defines true family. It’s a reminder that the most meaningful gifts in life aren’t wrapped in bows or delivered in boxes—they’re given in moments of courage, compassion, and commitment.

“My dad gave me everything growing up,” Allison said. “Giving him a kidney was just one way I could give something back.”

In a world filled with noise and distractions, the Fosters' story stops you in your tracks. It’s a story that grounds you, that makes you call your parents, hug your children a little tighter, and remember what really matters.

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A New Chapter, A Renewed Life

For Steve Foster, this Father's Day marks more than a milestone—it’s a rebirth. It's a chance to continue doing what he loves: being a husband, a father, a grandfather, a banker, a farmer, and above all, a man deeply rooted in faith and family.

And from now on, every day will carry the heartbeat of his daughter’s sacrifice. Every sunset over the farm, every cheer from the stands at his grandkids’ games, every breath he takes—it all traces back to a decision made not out of obligation, but out of pure love.

“We’ll never forget this Father’s Day,” Gail says. “Not because of what we received, but because of what we still have—each other.”

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In the truest sense of the word, it was a Father’s Day miracle. One born not from luck or chance, but from the fierce, beautiful bond between a father and the daughter who gave him life—twice.