Speak of the Devil and She Will Appear

Abby and Moira evidently got to see their family at their very worst. It was bad enough to be losing their father. They were getting the long concealed inside scoop on the wicked family they sprang from.

Abby evidently had to be present and contribute to every medical decision made on J.'s behalf.  When the doc discussed his acute cardiovascular disease, Sheila and Endorra flew into tizzies. Hands thrown to the cheeks in disbelief. Pearls clutched in shock. 

Hello, what did they think the pacemaker was for?  It is a belt-with-suspenders device for the heart that is most likely to just suddenly stop beating. Because of cardiovascular disease, pinheads! Even Abby rolled her eyes.

And when it became apparent that J. was getting to be a very expensive, uninsured, hopeless case, they did the most despicable thing.

They wanted to throw in the heroic measures towel, but could not tell the doctor they wanted a Do Not Resuscitate order.  No, they wanted to be able to tell people they did everything they could. Prayed the rosary. Sat at his bedside day and night. Held on to hope and faith and let God's will be done.

But they were not about to wait around for that. They made Abby approach the doctor about the DNR. At the ripe old age of 20. Let her go to Hell for that.


Witches.  They just could not have that on their souls.  That's okay. The devil knows where to find them, even if they think this little gesture has gotten excused on a technicality.

The doc was smarter than them all, though.

When Abby nervously approached him about the DNR, he looked her straight in the eye and said, "Abby how old are you?"

She replied.

"Where is the rest of your family? Your father's sister and mother?  Why are they not here?"

She felt like she was in trouble. "The people I'm with asked me to tell you."

"Abby, I never want to speak to you again about something like this. I will talk with your family. This is their job to make this decision. No one can expect you to be comfortable with this. That is just insane."

Some people really are in it for the right reasons. When Abby needed an advocate, she found one in the unlikeliest of places. 

The crime is that those who should have been holding her hand and protecting her and preparing her for what was to come had only themselves on their minds. And the fun was just beginning.