Abandoned Hope

"Honey, maybe we should tell your mom to stop treatment."

On Christmas Eve, after spending the day cooking dinner for my in-laws, I was getting ready to head to the hospital and keep my mother, Deborah Ramsey, company through the night.

Just as I reached the door, my husband, Blaine Ramsey, stopped me.

It took me a moment to process what he'd said. I turned and stared at him in disbelief.

"What do you mean?"

He lowered his head and stayed silent.

My mother-in-law, Rosalia Ramsey, however, answered with an impatient glare, "It means exactly what he said.