Savanna smiled, giving her hand a firm, warm squeeze.

"Thank you, my dear. This cause is very close to my heart," she said, her emotion carefully restrained. "Leukemia took the granddaughter of a dear friend three years ago. It was for her that I started this project. No child should die so young."

Isis fell silent for a moment. The air seemed thinner. She swallowed the emotion before it spilled over and replied in a low voice.

"I understand more than you might imagine," she said gently. "