When She Said to Leave Him in the Cold, I Made a Different Choice

After my husband passed, I was the one who placed his father in a respected nursing home when his sister, Diane, refused to help. One evening,

I found his room freezing. His arthritis had worsened, and he could barely move. I soon learned Diane had instructed staff not to turn on the heat unless temperatures dropped below fifty degrees—despite knowing he suffered in the cold. She held medical authority; I did not.

I brought blankets and a heater, then contacted a lawyer after finding a letter in which my father-in-law had expressed trust in me. We documented everything, including a nurse’s confirmation of Diane’s orders. In court, the evidence spoke clearly. I was granted medical proxy.

He spent his final months in warmth and peace, passing gently one spring morning. Now, I volunteer to help others protect those they love.