Ron Trentham
Smiles Across the Miles tells the unforgettable true story of Mary Louise Eiman, a woman who endured pain, trauma, and heartbreak most people could never imagine. From a childhood lost in the foster care system to her final days in hospice, Mary built something that mattered. A life full of love, purpose, and connection.She was abandoned before her first birthday, passed from one broken home to the next, and raised by strangers who often didn’t care if she lived or died. She survived abuse, neglect, silence, and loss. But through it all, she kept fighting. She held on to kindness when she found it. She chased joy wherever she could. And she refused to let the worst parts of her past define her.This is not just a story about surviving. It is about becoming.Mary never had it easy, but she gave everything she had. She made people laugh. She built friendships that lasted. From California to Tennessee, from a foster kid to a woman full of strength and fire, she changed lives simply by being herself. Even as her body began to fail, she found new ways to connect.In her final years, as her health declined and hospice care became part of her daily life, Mary didn’t give up. She kept showing up. From her wheelchair, from her bed, and behind a glowing computer screen, she reached people across the country and around the world. She sent messages, played games, offered advice, and turned strangers into lifelong friends. She inspired others in ways she never expected, just by being herself
