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*Names have been changed to protect the identities of those involved. This is a true story from the best that I can recollect it. |
Cousin Cheryl* lived a solitary life
until she met Lloyd. How he weasled his way into her life we do not know, but
what we do know is that he exploited her for financial gain.
My mother grew up with her cousin Cheryl
living down the street from her. Mom was about ten years younger and loved to
play at the beach with her. Eventually, Mom moved several hours away from her
beloved cousin, but she didn’t lose touch. At least once a year, especially on
Christmas, she’d call Cheryl and check on her. Cheryl was divorced and had no
children. She worked hard all her life and eventually retired with a pension
and owned her home.
Enter Lloyd, who befriended Cheryl. He
claimed to be a nurse and “took care of her” when she injured her ankle. As her
memory started to fade from Alzheimer’s Disease, he called in a mobile notary
public and had her sign her house over to him.
Mom was worried when Cheryl wouldn’t
answer her phone calls. After about a year had passed, my great-aunt called my
mom. Cheryl was this woman’s niece. She informed my mom about a strange call
from a man named Lloyd. He said that he was Cheryl's nurse and she was not
well. Cheryl wanted him to have her house because he did such a great job as
her nurse. He threw in that he was studying to be a preacher (most likely to
gain even more trust with the family).
My great-aunt wasn’t buying it.
Neither was my mom. Being her only daughter, I get a phone call the same day
explaining the strange situation, which didn’t sit well with me either. Mom did
some digging and asked family to help investigate Lloyd. Sure enough, he wasn’t
a nurse and we figured he wasn’t studying to be a preacher. He had an arrest
record and was charged with theft twice. He was in control of Cheryl’s bank
account and would own Cheryl’s house as soon as she died, which he implied
would be soon.
Mom called DCF, she contacted the
county sheriff's department in Cheryl’s area, we asked lawyers what to do. No one would
help. Clearly, Lloyd had found a crack in the system and made it work in his
favor. Mom said she wanted to talk to Lloyd directly, to get more information
from him and figure out a way to help Cheryl. My great-aunt gave her the
number. He talked to my mom over the phone and friended her on facebook. He
frequently sent messages about how qualified he was to be Cheryl’s nurse and
how he deserved her house.
By this time, Mom had shared with me
all her interactions with Lloyd. Finally, he sent a picture of Cheryl with a
furrowed brow. She looked like she was in pain. A few days later, Lloyd said he
had to take Cheryl to the hospital, and he prepared my mom for the worst.
Several days went by. We called around the area and found the hospital where Cheryl
was admitted. I prayed that the Lord would rescue Cheryl from this weird man’s
clutches. On the fifth day of Cheryl being in the hospital, I felt compelled to
go see her. Maybe there was something I could do. My husband was supportive of
me and stayed at our house with the kids. He trusted that I could face whatever
happened in the hospital alone. Well, he knew I wasn’t alone. The Lord was with
me.
At the hospital, I was allowed to
visit Cheryl in her room. A hospital nurse came in and checked on her. I wished
Cheryl well and reminded her that I was her favorite cousin’s daughter. She
grinned. I asked, “Did you give Lloyd your house?” She furrowed her brow and
shook her head and said, “Oh, no. I wouldn’t do that.”
“Well, Lloyd said you did.” I sighed.
“Can I pray with you, Cheryl?” She nodded her head, yes. I prayed to the God of
justice, who helps the needy, delivers us from our sins through Christ’s
sacrifice on the cross, and gives us the same power that raised Him from the
dead. When I opened my eyes, I noticed Cheryl’s arms were covered in sores, and
I asked the nurse about it. She didn’t know how they got there. Indignation for
Lloyd's treatment of Cheryl overwhelmed me. I broke down and cried as I told
the nurse the whole story about Lloyd. She pointed behind me to warn me that he
was about to enter the room. I asked if I could have more time alone with Cheryl.
The nurse nodded and said she’d escort him to the waiting room.
When she came back, she led me to the
station of the hospital social worker. I had brought some family pictures of Cheryl
with me and showed them as I told the social worker my story. She nodded and
looked stern. “I thought that man looked suspicious. Your mother has
already called me and told me the same story as you. Based solely on what
you and your mother have said about Lloyd, I will have him escorted out of this
hospital right now. I think that man is up to no good. From now on, I’ll make
arrangements for your mother to be in control of Cheryl’s health care
decisions."
I’m not sure if what the social worker
did was legal, but she made the system work in Cheryl’s favor. Lloyd was
escorted out of the hospital and not allowed to visit Cheryl anymore. The
social worker found a nursing home that would take care of Cheryl because she
could no longer walk. Her nephew moved down from up north to check on her. He
was able to somehow live in Cheryl’s house and challenged Lloyd to call the
police if he wanted to do anything about it. Lloyd relented and found another
place to live, but he still legally owned Cheryl’s house. The nursing home took
control of Cheryl's bank account and tried to confiscate the house to pay for
her expenses but they couldn’t legally get it back from Lloyd either.
Mom continued to call Cheryl to check
on her, especially on Christmas. Her nephew frequently visited her and made
sure that she was treated well in the nursing home.
I was stunned and amazed that Cheryl
was rescued from such an impossibly bad situation. I don’t know what would have
happened to her if Lloyd continued to “care” for her. And, I don’t think it was
me who really did any rescuing. All I did was go and one door after another
opened for me to help Cheryl. It’s as if the Lord paved the way. Well, I think
He did.
There’s a song that says, “He will make a way, when there is no other way.” I witnessed this first hand. Cheryl’s
situation seemed impossible, but she was delivered. Our God is our Deliverer.
Most of all, He delivered us from the penalty of our sins and made a way for us
to live together with Him forever. I hope Cheryl realized that when I prayed
with her. About two years later, my mom called to tell me that Cheryl had
passed away. Mom wrote in her obituary that, "she left this earth with
great dignity."
Elder abuse and exploitation is an all
too common problem. Better laws need to be passed, protective services need to
be reformed, and family need to be watchful for predatory individuals who seek
to exploit their loved ones. Churches and senior community centers can also be
supportive to their vulnerable elderly population by educating their members
about elder abuse.
"He has shown you, O man, what is
good; and what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, to love mercy,
and to walk humbly with your God" (Micah 6:8)
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