Mom's Story--Independence Gone Forever

In the first week of June, Tom's ninety-four-year-old mother was rushed to the emergency room in West Palm Beach County, Florida, with what turned out to be pneumonia. After a week in the hospital and three weeks in rehab, she was told by her doctor that she could no longer live alone, and she had to turn in her car keys. Tom and I were by her side when she heard the news, and it was heartbreaking to watch her stunned reaction.  In an instant her independence was gone forever.

Later that night, back at Whitehall Rehab Center, Tom walked into his mother's room to find her lying in bed, crying. Many times, as a young child, he had discovered his mother weeping alone in her room, and in an effort to comfort her, he would climb into her bed and hold her. Sixty plus years later, that would once again become the antidote to Mom's sadness. Tom kicked off his shoes and slid in behind his mother and held on tight. Within minutes, the tears dried, and a smile (albeit slight) appeared.

The next eight days would turn Mom's world upside down as she headed to a place she had begged her sons to never take her.

Mom's story to be continued