BATTLE CREEK, MI -- Sometimes pizza is more than just a meal.

For Julie Morgan and Rich Morgan of Indianapolis, it was the nice gesture that came with two pizzas delivered from their favorite pizzeria soon after they learned that Rich would enter hospice care, that made their day.

Julie Morgan posted on Facebook about the experience, saying that she and Rich lived in Battle Creek 25 years ago. Though money was tight, Rich would bring home a pizza from Steve's Pizza every payday, she said.

The couple's planned getaway to Michigan and to Steve's Pizza in Battle Creek was interrupted by a trip to the ICU, where they learned Rich's battle with cancer was coming to an end, she wrote on Facebook.

They returned to Indianapolis, where they were enjoying spending time with family, when Julie Morgan's father secretly called Steve's Pizza.

"They would always say there's no one that measures up to Steve's Pizza," Julie Morgan's father, David Dalke, said. He described the couple's situation, hoping the restaurant might send a card or text.

Dalton Shaffer answered the phone.

"He said, 'Well what kind of pizza do they like?'" Dalke said.

A couple of slices of pizza from Steve's Pizza, delivered about 225 miles from Battle Creek to Indianapolis.

"Dalton, I want to make sure you know where I'm calling from," Dalke remembers saying.

Shaffer said he would drive the pizzas to them after closing the shop, even though Steve's Pizza doesn't normally deliver.

And even though it was across state lines about 225 miles away; about 450 miles round trip.

"I just felt really sad for them," Shaffer, 18, said.

He closed the store at closing time on Saturday, Oct. 13, cleaned up and hopped into his Honda Accord to make the drive down with two 16-inch pizzas with pepperoni and mushrooms, he said.

He arrived at the Indiana home about 2:30 a.m. and refused money for a hotel, Julie Morgan wrote, leaving right away to get back for work the next day.

Family members of the couple at the house came out and hugged him, Shaffer said.

"They couldn't believe I would do that," he said.

Shaffer told the family they are in his prayers, and he asks everyone else to think of them during the tough time.

"I am beyond overwhelmed and humbled by this act of genuine kindness. Dalton brought our family so much joy - and the best pizza in the world - at a really difficult time. While 'thank you' hardly seems adequate - from the bottom of my heart, thank you, Dalton from Steve's Pizza in Battle Creek, MI for making your epic middle of the night pizza delivery!" Julie Morgan wrote on Facebook, posting a photo of two slices of pizza.

Shaffer said he didn't do it for attention, and that he was surprised to see the story on Facebook. He missed phone calls from a few news agencies, he said on Wednesday.

Morgan's post had nearly 2,000 shares as of Wednesday afternoon, less than a day after it was posted.

Julie Morgan and Rich Morgan were asleep when the pies arrived, and enjoyed some the next day.

"It was as delicious as we remembered!" she said.

Sometimes a slice of pizza is more than it appears to be! Read on for the story of an epic pizza delivery and the... Posted by Julie Morgan on Tuesday, October 16, 2018

Dalke calls the trip a journey of mercy.

"He was just delightful," Dalke said about the intrepid delivery driver. "He's just an outstanding man who has his heart in the right place."

"My gosh we need people like this in the world. We need other people to be this way."