The last time she'd been in, she suffered a stroke in her hospital bed. She was seriously ill again.
My hospital visits were interrupted a week later by what seemed at the time like a vicious two-day flu, but may have been some form of exhaustion on my part. I came right and, after 45 minutes searching for a park, arrived at her bedside again on a Thursday.
I had been there five minutes when one of Mum's doctors appeared with a consent form. They needed to perform a painful and potentially risky diagnostic procedure and they needed my approval. I read the form, listened to the doctor and - what else could I do? - signed it. I held her while it was done and she moaned in pain. Then I went home and got bank-scammed.
This story is from the July 29 - August 4 2023 edition of New Zealand Listener.
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This story is from the July 29 - August 4 2023 edition of New Zealand Listener.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
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