When She Said to Leave Him in the Cold, I Chose Differently

After my husband passed away, I was the one who arranged care for his father in a reputable nursing home. His sister, Diane, refused to take responsibility.

One evening, I walked into his room and felt a sharp chill. The heat was off. His arthritis had worsened, and he could barely move from the cold. I later discovered Diane had instructed staff not to turn on the heat unless temperatures fell below fifty degrees — even though she knew how much he suffered. She had medical authority. I didn’t.

I brought extra blankets and a small heater, then contacted a lawyer after finding a letter in which my father-in-law had expressed his trust in me. We carefully documented everything, including confirmation from a nurse about Diane’s instructions.

In court, the evidence spoke for itself. I was granted medical proxy.

He spent his final months warm, comfortable, and at peace, passing quietly one spring morning. Today, I volunteer to help others protect the people they love — because sometimes doing the right thing means refusing to leave someone out in the cold.