Deirdre Hennesy was a friend of Ms. Beck's that she met through Sibyl Johnston. Deirdre had been married to a cruel man and she left him during her first pregnancy. At that time Deirdre suffered terrible morning sickness and had to be hospitalized for dehydration. Deirdre thought she would die during her stay in the hospital. While crying in her hospital bed, a woman came into the room and saw Deirdre's distress. This woman, although she did not speak English, took it upon herself to give Deirdre a sponge bath and to croon to her in a soothing and mothering tone. It was for this reason that Deirdre befriended Ms. Beck and helped her through her pregnancy.