Mom was declining rapidly towards the end of December. 

Suffering from a fractured hip, dementia and heart failure, I hoped her ordeal would end soon. 

If she were to die before the end of the year, I could write off 2020 completely. It was not to be. “She’s one tough lady,” said the med technician looking after her. 

“And one of the sweetest ladies I’ve ever known,” they added.