I had no idea she would take my mother off and get her married.. 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. I had no idea she would take my mother off and get her married.. 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. While they were fond of each other and spoke frequently over the phone, they saw each other relatively infrequently in the intervening years. So Edith moved to Florida to live with Barber in mid-March. Niesen is an unseen force of evil in the film and has rightly become the face of public scorn as one of the most despicable movie villains of 2017. 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. "He. 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. Meanwhile, Niesen said she was getting calls from family members who worried that Edith was rapidly losing weight and not receiving necessary medical attention. When Hill did not return home as planned after two weeks, Harrison began to realize she was not coming back, Wright said. 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. Court records indicate that Hill suffers from mild dementia. I looked her up just now. Now that Edith was married, there was no question of her leaving Eddie and returning immediately to Florida, Barber said in an interview. Wake up to the day's most important news. 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.. A legal marriage in the commonwealth of Virginia would not have been possible if the couple had met when they were young. 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. But they disagreed among themselves. End of story for some viewers, maybe. How could she lie to this man and not bring his wife back. Meanwhile, Niesen said she was getting calls from family members who worried that Edith was rapidly losing weight and not receiving necessary medical attention. At that point, emails show Niesen let Wrights lawyer know she wanted Edith to go to Florida for several weeks while she looked for an assisted living facility or an alternative living situation. One of Hill's daughters says the marriage was improper and that Hill's estate is now in question. 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. I bet she care more for a 4 legged pet animals than two 95+ human beings who made it this far. Since tying the knot, both Edith and Eddie have experienced an awakening; they have a new reason to get up in the morning. Cher said she will help pay for needed upgrades to Hill's family home in Alexandria. Edith Hill, 96, and Eddie Harrison, 95, shown here in their home in Annandale, Va., were married earlier this year. 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. March 1, 2018. Was it Barber, the daughter in Florida, who believed Edith needed what she felt was a more reliable living situation? Niesen wasnt sure where Edith and Eddie were living; when she asked Wright for that information she was reportedly told they were moving between two Virginia houses on an unpredictable schedule. My heart goes out to the daughter who took care of her mom and these two love birds. 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. One month later, Wright suggested her mother visit Virginia over Easter to attend church and visit with family and friends, and Barber agreed to that plan. (Yates isnt mentioned in the documentary. Now that Edith was married, there was no question of her leaving Eddie and returning immediately to Florida, Barber said in an interview. Niesen says the marriage should be given equal treatment if found to be a good arrangement for Hill. I picked up Kelly McGonigal's TheUpside of Stress assuming I would skim it for a few interesting ideas, but probably not finish it. hide caption. Was it Wright, who cooperated with the filmmakers and was living with her mother at the time? Her intent was to focus on their love story. Could her distress have been alleviated, if she had received reassurance rather than being torn between conflicting factions? 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. In a court deposition, Cher said she was inspired last year when she saw a news story about Edith Hill and her newlywed husband, Eddie Harrison. In December 2013, court records show a geriatric care manager determined that Edith required extensive, round-the-clock assistance with all routine activities. 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 had allegedly emptied her mothers bank account of $11,000 and was refusing to return the funds, according to that court filing. Do you regularly tell lies? Edith was gaining weight, getting physical therapy, taking all her medications and was well-adjusted, according to her court report. All rights reserved. To have someone at that stage of your life care for you and you return those feelings what an amazing gift. I was sobbing throughout. A 95-year-old newlywed Virginia man has died just weeks after his 96-year-old wife was taken to Florida by family members. On one end I thought that I was watching a beautiful love story, then it turned into a dark hell. Unfortunately, Edith is forced to leave behind her home and Eddie, who dies shortly after her departure. I told all of those present that I would open my home to have an early Thanksgiving, give me a handful of days to prepare, and everyone could come to my house, stay in my home, whether we liked each other or not. It brought to the surface all of my feelings, all of my many many feelings. A pack of wolves, in sheep clothing I bet. It ends months later with the couple being separated by Ediths court-appointed legal guardian, with police on the scene, and Edith taken off abruptly to Florida. Felt. I wanted him to be inour home, surrounded by loved ones, close enough that my Sister could come visit and have a place to stay if she wanted. She never went to an institution. Her two sisters, Wright and Barber, then became their mothers co-guardians, court records show. It was meant to be temporary, my grandmothers separation from Eddie, until they were able to place them somewhere together, said Lois Mosby, another granddaughter. I certainly didnt do it for my love of these people, but for my Dads love of his family. Posturing by lawyers and case filings inevitably dehumanize the elderly and we were not interested in exploring these predictable events.. The only thing I was told was that Dad had over dosed his insulin. If possible, please include the original author(s) and Kaiser Health News in the byline. But in a document filed with the Alexandria court on July 11, 2011, Edith registered opposition. 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. But family disputes about how to care for frail, vulnerable elderly parents are my territory, inevitably complicated and full of unresolved emotional issues. Could her distress have been alleviated, if she had received reassurance rather than being torn between conflicting factions? Meanwhile, Niesen said she was getting calls from family members who worried that Edith was rapidly losing weight and not receiving necessary medical attention. The family of 96-year-old Edith Hill in Alexandria, Va., says her sudden marriage to 95-year-old Eddie Harrison puts her estate into question. Once they do the repairs and she comes back home, it's going to be bittersweet because she only wanted to be with him.. I do believe all three sisters loved their mother but they each had their own idea of how to handle things, said Joshua Bushman, who became Ediths guardian ad litem in 2011 at the request of the City of Alexandria, Va. (Eddie, who had never flown on an airplane before, declined repeated invitations, according to Barber and Niesen.). Review Jessica Niesen Jessica Niesen View contact info Absolutely disgusting Posted by Jenny July 28, 2022 Absolutely disgusting! She lacks every basic good human character. As a columnist who covers aging, Im familiar with such stories. 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. Wright wrote in an email that all the questions were based on false allegations and that the film shows how much she did for her mother and stepfather. Rebecca was moving her around all over the place and wouldnt return my phone calls. But family disputes about how to care for frail, vulnerable elderly parents are my territory, inevitably complicated and full of unresolved emotional issues. Two months later, Caldwell, the geriatric care manager, flew to Florida to perform a follow-up evaluation. A judge appointed a new guardian for Hill to protect her interests, removing Barber and Wright as guardians, but left the marriage intact. 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. In December 2013, court records show, a geriatric care manager determined that Edith required extensive, round-the-clock assistance with all routine activities. It reminded me of the frustration I felt at trying to organize my Dads finances and blindly trying to do my best to include people I felt aided in my Dads demise. "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. Turned out to be the most disturbing story in a very long time. 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. 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. Previously cities included Arlington VA and Falls Church VA. Theyre trying to say it was some abuse or something, said Hubbard, Ediths brother. I think so. 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. All the people and records I consulted made it clear that the sisters for years had bickered over what was best for their mother. Her goal, she said in an interview, was to remove Edith from an unsafe environment, not to separate her from Eddie, who shed invited to join Edith in Florida. While they were fond of each other and spoke frequently over the phone, they saw each other relatively infrequently in the intervening years. Toronto woman forced to pay $27,000 from condo flood, Hockey moms in Manitoba create a league of their own. Niesen wasnt sure where Edith and Eddie were living; when she asked Wright for that information she was reportedly told they were moving between two Virginia houses on an unpredictable schedule. There was no abuse involved none at all.. It begins in the fall of 2014 with Edith Hill, 96, and Eddie Harrison, 95, who were married only a few months before, enjoying a series of intimate moments dancing together, holding hands, exercising and chatting comfortably. Harrison died in December, just weeks after Hill was taken away to Florida on the recommendation of a court-appointed guardian, but a custody dispute continued over who should care for Hill and where she should live. 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