Thanks to the skill of the surgical team, Hill has made an incredible recovery, but stresses he doesn't know what he and his wife would have done without the help of his neighbors, Rick and Nancy Allen. More than 20 years ago Jack and Leslie Hill moved to Missouri from Michigan where they happened to know Nancy as a teenager. They watched her grow into a young woman and marry Rick Allen, a horse trainer and breeder. The Hills also raised and showed horses all over the country. When they relocated to Missouri, they set up their horse operation on Links Road near Marthasville. Fifteen years later, their closest neighbor sold his property. New owners moved in and established EquiLink Inc., a full-service equine facility. Much to everyone's surprise, Rick and Nancy were the new neighbors. "It was completely a coincidence," said Nancy. For six years, the neighbors have enjoyed a good friendship. Jack loaned pasture to Rick when the Hills no longer kept horses. Rick once sprinted across several fields to rescue Leslie when he heard her calling for help after a fall. "We weren't real close," said Jack. "We were just good acquaintances and good neighbors." The heart surgery changed all that. Jack suffered several setbacks directly following his surgery. He said it was very hard on Leslie to try to take care of him, since she is approaching her 80th birthday. "I finally just told Rick and Nancy what was going on," said Leslie. "They took care of everything. They are the most generous and kind people we've ever met." Leslie said Jack initially recuperated at a nursing home, then had to return to the hospital several times due to complications from his surgery. The Allens faithfully fed and watered their dogs, collected the mail, picked up groceries and mowed the lawn. After Jack returned home, Rick often took him to his doctor appointments. Leslie said since Jack was unable to climb the stairs to the upstairs bedroom, Nancy brought his bed downstairs. "It was amazing to see someone just step in and do practically everything hand and foot," said Jack. "I think they felt an obligation to look out for us. They have no family here." "We would have been up a creek without them," added Leslie. However, Rick and Nancy don't see anything unusual in their acts of kindness. "That's the great thing about this country," said Rick, "people just step up and help out when their neighbors need it." "Besides," said Nancy as she hugged Jack, "you've got to take care of the good neighbors." The Hills still say the kindness shown by their neighbors was "way above and beyond the call - an unusual sacrifice." "Saying thank you is not enough," Jack said. "You can say it 1,000 times and it's not enough."