"Best Buy," she said instantly. "My kid lives for that place. You can just buy a gift card online. It hits their email in like ten minutes."

Elias perked up. He tapped into the Best Buy website. He’d always been a physical-gift kind of guy—wrapping paper, bows, the whole deal—but desperate times called for digital measures.

He hit "Purchase" and watched the little loading circle spin. Success.

"Uncle El! Are you serious? I can get the graphics card now!"

"You look like you're trying to perform telekinesis on that vending machine," a nurse joked, swapping out his IV bag.