It was concerning, since Im the one who was legally responsible for her and I didnt know what was going on, Niesen said. All the bad emotions mixed on one big batch. Edith passed away last March of natural causes at the age of 98, after living with her daughter in Florida through the end of her life. I think this is an important story, Cher said. That is what you do if you truly love someone. In a written report filed with the court, she noted with concern that Wright had taken Edith off medications for dementia, hypertension, constipation and osteoporosis. Reopened wounds from my fiancees passing because I also went through a very similar experience with his family and lets just say I was accepted and loved for over a decade and then as his terminal illness worsened, I turned into the mortal enemy. Upon arriving in Florida, Edith weighed 98 pounds, down from 110 pounds in October a dangerous weight loss for someone so old and frail. In December, a court-appointed guardian for Hill, Jessica Niesen, had Hill moved to Florida to live with another daughter. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. I suppose she was making a statement. Just watching this documentary broke my heart all over again. All the people and records I consulted made it clear that the sisters for years had bickered over what was best for their mother. McLEAN, Va. (AP) A judge says a 96-year-old woman whose late-life marriage to a 95-year-old beau made national news should be returned to her longtime northern Virginia home after the musician Cher promised to pay to fix it up. "She says she wants to see her guitar boys," Wright said, a reference to a Falls Church honkytonk where she would go dancing with Harrison. Niesen and Barber then went to Ediths townhome and were met by a camera crew waiting to film the ensuing drama as Edith and Eddie lay next to each other in bed, overcome by helplessness and dread a heartbreaking scene shown in the film. Wake up to the day's most important news. Cher's involvement in Edith Hill's story has extended over several months. This film is distorted and hurtful, said Davis, one of Ediths granddaughters. To contact Judith Graham with a question or comment,click here. I think it's pretty safe to say she failed royally. Theyre trying to say it was some abuse or something, said Hubbard, Ediths brother. She would throw you under the bus if "under her eyes" got her ahead. About Jessica Learn Jessica's areas of practice. Wright says Alexandria is the best place for her mother, and the place that her mother says she wants to spend the rest of her days - her church is here, along with her home and other places she loves. Shame on you and I wish no good comes to you as a result of what you did. This film is distorted and hurtful, said Michelle Davis, one of Ediths granddaughters. While there are numerous issues to be sorted out, including questions about inheritance and where the couple will live, she would just as soon let the marriage continue. Edith and Eddie had met more than a decade before the events depicted in the documentary, when they happened to play the lottery together and ended up sharing $5,000 in winnings. We filmed all those around them who were willing to be filmed, she responded in a written statement, explaining why she hadnt explored the broader family issues. The drama of the film is centered on a court-appointed guardian, Jessica Niesen, who orders Edith to be separated from Eddie and to move into her daughter Patricia's home in Florida.. After that, it was hard keeping track of where my mother was, said Barber. Cybersecurity experts explain what the federal ban could mean for everyday users, 11 minutes of daily exercise could have a positive impact on your health, large study shows. In December, a court-appointed guardian for Hill, Jessica Niesen, had Hill moved to Florida to live with another daughter. They really are. Hill is black and Harrison was white. Thought I was watching a sweet love story. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Gabe Winant is the author of The Next Shift: The Fall of Industry and the Rise of Health Care in Rust Belt America. I had no idea she would take my mother off and get her married.. A Tale of Love, Family Conflict And Battles Over Care For An Aging Mother. On one end I thought that I was watching a beautiful love story, then it turned into a dark hell. Her home wasnt sold until after her death; there was no attempt to plunder her estate by lawyers or family members. The two have been companions ever since. The reason? The film states that Edith and Eddie never spoke again. Here it is: In 2011, Edith was diagnosed with moderate dementia, leaving her daughters Ernestine Yates, Patricia Barber and Rebecca Wright to chart her future. As a columnist who covers aging, Im familiar with such stories. This whole thing is a travesty, what happens to old people, she said. We all know you are together now. Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and This Kaiser Health News story can be republished for free (details). I was sobbing throughout. Thats the other story of Edith+Eddie. But in a document filed with the Alexandria court on July 11, 2011, Edith registered opposition. I also contacted Ediths independent guardian and several lawyers involved with this case and reviewed Virginia court records, including a series of orders involving Edith between 2011 and 2015. But that, a judge ruled in February 2014, was impossible unless the home was renovated since the only bathroom was up a steep flight of stairs a significant fall risk for the increasingly frail older woman. patricia barber daughter of edith hill. He also became ill with the flu and checked himself into a hospital. Was the marriage legal? Yates considered moving her mother to an assisted living facility, according to the geriatric care managers report, leading to more family division. This 30 minute documentary brought out all of my bitterness for the assholes in life that care only about being right above the person they are supposed to love. Once they do the repairs and she comes back home, it's going to be bittersweet because she only wanted to be with him.. This woman never met Edith in person until the night she ripped her out of her own home and away from her husband. McLEAN, Virginia A judge says a 96-year-old woman whose late-life marriage to a 95-year-old beau made national news should be returned to her longtime northern Virginia home after the musician Cher promised to pay to fix it up. While they were fond of each other and spoke frequently over the phone, they saw each other relatively infrequently in the intervening years. People are assholes. There are allegations from one of Ediths daughters about money issues and possession of the family home, as well as insinuations of racism (Edith is black, Eddie is white). It devastated my heart! And Jessica Niesen facilitated that. May I ask, who raised you? Newlyweds Edith Hill, 96, and Eddie Harrison, 95, married in Alexandria, Virginia, earlier this year after being companions for over a decade. Wright the only of Ediths daughters who appears in the film had wanted to become her mothers guardian. There was no abuse. Here it is: In 2011, Edith was diagnosed with moderate dementia, leaving her daughters Ernestine Yates, Patricia Barber and Rebecca Wright to chart her future. Wright said he was heartbroken when Hill was moved to Florida and gloomy about his prospects of ever seeing her again. (Although Wright claimed a doctor had seen her mother and agreed to the medication changes, when Caldwell checked, she learned that wasnt true, according to the report.). Her home wasnt sold until after her death; there was no attempt to plunder her estate by lawyers or family members. In an interview, Niesen said she had no reason to contest Edith and Eddies marriage because it wasnt hurting anybody and it was making them happy., But she had other concerns. Navigating Agingfocuses on medical issues and advice associated with aging and end-of-life care, helping Americas 45 million seniors and their families navigate the health care system. Exactly. Yates considered moving her mother to an assisted living facility, according to the geriatric care managers report, leading to more family division. I started wondering about questions the film failed to address. This story played out a couple of years ago, the documentary was released last year. It's not right what is going on., Edith Hill, 96, and 95-year-old Eddie Harrison in their home in Annandale, Va. on Aug. 5, 2014. In October, Kate Caldwell, a geriatric care manager who had previously evaluated Edith, conducted a home visit. Cher said she would pay to fix up the Alexandria home to make sure it's properly equipped for a 96-year-old. We encourage organizations to republish our content, free of charge. It brought to the surface all of my feelings, all of my many many feelings. I reached out to Laura Checkoway, the films director, who told me in an initial interview that she became interested in chronicling the romance of Edith and Eddie in the summer of 2014 when they were reportedly the oldest interracial newlyweds in America. Dad used to call me his pitbull, fighting for him at every turn. In an interview, Barber said she thought her mother would enjoy the trip and asked Wright to bring Edith back to Florida in July, in time for several doctors appointments. The custody case over Hill remains ongoing, despite the judge's order that Hill be returned to Alexandria. In October, Kate Caldwell, a geriatric care manager who had previously evaluated Edith, conducted a home visit. Niesen now has the task of investigating . That year, a court declared Edith incompetent and named Yates her legal guardian, according to court records. KHNs coverage of these topics is supported by He knew I did not like her, we spoke of it. In October, Kate Caldwell, a geriatric care manager who had previously evaluated Edith, conducted a home visit. Niesen, in a phone interview, said she is still gathering facts and has an upcoming appointment to meet Hill and Harrison. "Edith + Eddie," a short documentary vying for an Academy Award Sunday, is a gripping look at a couple in their 90s caught up in an intense family conflict over caring for an aging parent. While they were fond of each other and spoke frequently over the phone, they saw each other relatively infrequently in the intervening years. "He actually gave his life to this effort," Wright said of Harrison and his battle to have his union with Hill recognized and to live with his wife. Now, says Cuccinelli, Harrison has legal rights to Hill's estate, which includes real estate in the pricey Old Town area of Alexandria. Niesen now has the task of investigating the marriage and protecting Hill's interests. The interracial aspect of the marriage also was unique because the two longtime Virginians would not have been allowed to marry if they had met in their 20s, 30s or 40s under state law at the time. Jessica Niesen. I guess expertise is in the eye of the beholder. I reached out to Laura Checkoway, the films director, who told me in an initial interview that she became interested in chronicling the romance of Edith and Eddie in the summer of 2014 when they were reportedly the oldest interracial newlyweds in America. But that didnt happen. Shockingly, Eddie died only a few weeks later. Edith Hill and Eddie Harrison in their Annandale, Virginia home. But as I widened the scope, I discovered a different, familiar story one that couldnt be told in 29 minutes: Three daughters in distress over the care of an aged mother and roiled by disputes played out in courtrooms among far-flung siblings. If a woman is under guardianship she cannot alter her marital status become married without permission of the court, said Kelly Thompson, a Virginia attorney and immediate past chair of the special needs section of the Virginia Bar Association. Was it Wright, who cooperated with the filmmakers and was living with her mother at the time? I cannot express enough in my own words how much this review hit home for me. I also contacted Ediths independent guardian and several lawyers involved with this case and reviewed Virginia court records, including a series of orders involving Edith between 2011 and 2015. I trongly guided the conversation because it was my intention to bring my Dad to my home to die, not put him away in a hospice facility just because it was convenient for one or two people to maybe visit him for a few minutes at their convenience. The couple fought them, with Harrison protesting to Niesen: Its the love story of the century, Wright said, recalling how they would dance, take walks and care for each other. @judith_graham, By Judith Graham Facebook gives people the power. The only thing I was told was that Dad had over dosed his insulin. But in a document filed with the Alexandria court on July 11, 2011, Edith registered opposition. Tried fast forwarding hoping to get to the good part because I couldnt believe what I was watching. Hill and Harrison were separated after their marriage became embroiled in a court dispute over whether Hill had the mental capacity to marry her companion. From that nursing home, after a series of miracles, he went home for three years until he became very ill and succumb to an array of illnesses in my home, in a hospital bed in my sunroom. I found out after, after he was gone. I started wondering about questions the film failed to address. She never went to an institution. She says she wants to see her guitar boys, Wright said, a reference to a Falls Church honkytonk where she would go dancing with Harrison. She, in turn, told him that she did not want him to be an official boyfriend (Dads words, not mine), just a friend who had fun (also Dads words). Her two sisters, Wright and Barber, then became their mothers co-guardians, court records show. Could her distress have been alleviated if she had received reassurance rather than being torn between conflicting factions? Niesen says the marriage should be given equal treatment if found to be a good arrangement for Hill. Thats the other story of Edith+Eddie. I bet she care more for a 4 legged pet animals than two 95+ human beings who made it this far. And. Who had Ediths bests interests at heart? Edith moved from an Alexandria, Va. townhome that shed owned for decades, to Yates home in Baltimore. View the profiles of people named Jessica Niesen. And did not facilitate a memorial service for Ediths husband, Eddie. I also contacted Ediths independent guardian and several lawyers involved with this case and reviewed Virginia court records, including a series of orders involving Edith between 2011 and 2015. Now that Edith was married, there was no question of her leaving Eddie and returning immediately to Florida, Barber said in an interview. Somehow Ms. Niesen learned how to be an attorney, while still retaining ignorance and general stupidity. Court records indicate that Hill suffers from mild dementia. How do we cope with anger as a caregiver? We have lots of information about Jessica: religious views are listed as unknown, ethnicity is Native American, and political affiliation is unknown. Was the marriage legal? But they disagreed among themselves. Similarly, Wright reportedly declined to let Niesen see Edith or tell her when she was taking Edith to the doctor, according to the appointed guardians court filings. In whore clothes, it would be hard not to. Horrible human being. After that, it was hard keeping track of where my mother was, said Barber. Later that month, Harrison died. Edith was gaining weight, getting physical therapy, taking all her medications and was well adjusted, according to her court report. McLEAN, Va. (AP) A judge says a 96-year-old woman whose late-life marriage to a 95-year-old beau made national news should be returned to her longtime northern Virginia home after the musician . Edith Hill, 96, and Eddie Harrison, 95, shown here in their home in Annandale, Va., were married earlier this year. How could she lie to this man and not bring his wife back. Thoughts on care work from Cori, our director, that hit your inbox each Monday morning (more-or-less). Who had Ediths best interests at heart? She successfully took her away from her spouse, against her will, in the last weeks of his life, and has not had the decency to either get Edith home to say goodbye nor arranged appropriate funeral services. If possible, please include the original author(s) and Kaiser Health News in the byline. Harrison stayed in Virginia. This documentary brought out more feelings that I thought possible in a short 30 minutes. "There is no bigger villain in a 2017 movie than Jessica Niesen, the Virginia attorney who separates against their will the nonagenarian married subjects in the Oscar-shortlisted short EDITH+EDDIE. Meanwhile, because the co-guardianship arrangement had become untenable, an independent guardian for Edith was appointed by the court - Jessica Niesen, an attorney in Fairfax, Va. Dad would lament the passing of my Ma and talk about how he missed her and that this woman was no replacement, just company. The family members I spoke with dont think that was the case. In an interview, Niesen said she had no reason to contest Edith and Eddies marriage because it wasnt hurting anybody and it was making them happy.. End of story for some viewers, maybe. Barber insists that wasnt true and that the couple spoke every day once she was in Florida sometimes multiple times a day. Several close relatives including Ediths brother, Curtis Hubbard, her daughter Barber and two of her granddaughters said in interviews they werent told about the wedding in June 2014 until after the fact, prompting a fresh round of mistrust and recrimination. If Niesen finds that the marriage does not benefit Hill or her estate, she can pursue a divorce or. According to the care managers report, Barber thought her mother would be best off living with her in Palm Coast, Fla. while Wright wanted her mom to move back into her Alexandria townhome. Where race is an underlying issue in Edith+Eddie, it explodes provocatively in HBO 's Traffic Stop (Dir. Meanwhile, because the co-guardianship arrangement had become untenable, an independent guardian for Edith was appointed by the court Jessica Niesen, an attorney in Fairfax, Va. A son, Lewis McDaniel, died in early 2012.). By late November, Niesen said in an interview shed become convinced that Ediths health and well-being were in danger and that Wright had no intention of cooperating with her attempts to oversee Ediths welfare. Edith and Eddie had met more than a decade before the events depicted in the documentary, when they happened to play the lottery together and ended up sharing $5,000 in winnings. Wright the only of Ediths daughters who appears in the film had wanted to become her mothers guardian. A dispute continues between the two sisters, Barber and Wright, over Hills affairs and place of residence. But that didnt happen. I put everything I had to getting my Dad back on his feet, getting him back home and to the healthiest version of himself. 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