Harrison stayed in Virginia. But in a document filed with the Alexandria court on July 11, 2011, Edith registered opposition. 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. Every. Barber insists that wasnt true and that the couple spoke every day once she was in Florida sometimes multiple times a day. "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. How could she lie to this man and not bring his wife back. Court records indicate that Hill suffers from mild dementia. Turned out to be the most disturbing story in a very long time. 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). Its important to note, not everything on khn.org is available for republishing. A total disgrace to the legal profession and to humanity as a whole." And Jessica Niesen facilitated that. My sister was treated beautiful when she went down to Florida.. While there are numerous issues to be sorted out, including questions. Niesen, in a phone interview, said she is still gathering facts and has an upcoming appointment to meet Hill and Harrison. Theyre trying to say it was some abuse or something, said Hubbard, Ediths brother. 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. This film is distorted and hurtful, said Michelle Davis, one of Ediths granddaughters. Thoughts on care work from Cori, our director, that hit your inbox each Monday morning (more-or-less). As a columnist who covers aging, Im familiar with such stories. "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. Sabrinas Parents Love Her. Cary Cuccinelli, Barber's attorney, said at a hearing last week that Hill has been declared legally incapacitated for many years and that Wright's decision to facilitate the marriage without court permission was "improper.". 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. Edith was gaining weight, getting physical therapy, taking all her medications and was well adjusted, according to her court report. Hill and Harrison met more than a decade ago while waiting in line to buy lottery tickets. (Yates isnt mentioned in the documentary. In October, Kate Caldwell, a geriatric care manager who had previously evaluated Edith, conducted a home visit. This story played out a couple of years ago, the documentary was released last year. Vacation? Previously cities included Arlington VA and Falls Church VA. It was nominated. We have a group specifically to connect you so we can bring about change. SEE ALL RESULTS.. Youtube Twitter Envelope Twitter Envelope Self righteous assholes. 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. 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. 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. Her home wasnt sold until after her death; there was no attempt to plunder her estate by lawyers or family members. This woman never met Edith in person until the night she ripped her out of her own home and away from her husband. Cher said she would pay to fix up the Alexandria home to make sure it's properly equipped for a 96-year-old. (Yates isnt mentioned in the documentary. In 1967, the Lovings won their case in Supreme Court to make interracial marriage legal. 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. A pack of wolves, in sheep clothing I bet. 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. And Jessica Niesen facilitated that. Shockingly, Eddie died only a few weeks later. All the people and records I consulted made it clear that the sisters for years had bickered over what was best for their mother. The end of the documentary states that to this day, a service or memorial had never been arranged. Her two sisters, Wright and Barber, then became their mothers co-guardians, court records show. KHN is an editorially independent program of KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation). In a court deposition, Cher said she was inspired last year when she a saw news story about Edith Hill and her newlywed husband, Eddie Harrison. I have never wanted to reach through a screen to strangle a person as much as I did Jessica Niesen. 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. Karma and Hell are two of the many things rotten people have going for them. Attempts to ask Wright about this issue and other questions were unsuccessful. Matthew Barakat/AP 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.. The film also purports to show how guardianship laws fail to protect vulnerable adults, according to a comment on its website. Cher Promises To Help 96-Year-Old Woman With Dementia Return Home. I think so. After that, it was hard keeping track of where my mother was, said Barber. A son, Lewis McDaniel, died in early 2012.). Contact Jessica 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. So Edith moved to Florida to live with Barber in mid-March. I will go back on the 21st and inevitably make changes. This whole thing is a travesty, what happens to old people, she said. Wright had been the biggest supporter of Hill and Harrison's marriage. Ediths transfer was scheduled for Dec. 6 but Wright failed to deliver her mother to a location agreed upon in advance, according to Niesen. 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. 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. Meanwhile, Niesen said she was getting calls from family members who worried that Edith was rapidly losing weight and not receiving necessary medical attention. Niesen now has the task of . 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. Later that month, Harrison died. There was a woman in my Fathers life who (in my opinion) took advantage of him. Throughout the ten weeks of filming, our focus was solely on Edith and Eddie and their relationship. She knew we collectively disliked her. 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. 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. 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. Click the button below to go to KFFs donation page which will provide more information and FAQs. Court records indicate that Hill suffers from mild dementia. hide caption. Cher's involvement in Edith Hill's story has extended over several months. I justcannot. Thats the other story of Edith+Eddie. Asked to investigate the circumstances under which Edith was wed, Bushman, the guardian ad litem, wrote in a court filing that he determined that Ms. 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 two had been companions for more than a decade before they married. 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. The reason? And did not facilitate a memorial service for Ediths husband, Eddie. I just cannot. 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. It was concerning, since Im the one who was legally responsible for her and I didnt know what was going on, Niesen said. Edith passed away last March of natural causes at age 98, after living with her daughter in Florida through the end of her life. And did not facilitate a memorial service for Edith's husband, Eddie. A church elder presided over their marriage ceremony earlier this year. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Barber insists that wasnt true and that the couple spoke every day once she was in Florida sometimes multiple times a day. Was it Wright, who cooperated with the filmmakers and was living with her mother at the time? Harrison stayed in Virginia. She would throw you under the bus if "under her eyes" got her ahead. Fv 27, 2023 how do i find my colorado cid number 0 Views Share on. The 2018 Oscar-Nominated Shorts: Documentary Program was the 141st ticket I bought using Movie Pass. "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. Truly liked it. 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. Your email address will not be published. . In January 2014, Yates, 77, gave up guardianship because it was getting to be a bit much and there was a lot of confusion going on, she said, allowing simmering family conflicts to reemerge. Long. End of story for some viewers, maybe. The film states that Edith and Eddie never spoke again. KHN is an editorially independent program of the Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonprofit organization based in Menlo Park, Calif., that is dedicated to filling the need for trusted information on national health issues. He went from the hospital to a nursing home to a second nursing home. Could her distress have been alleviated if she had received reassurance rather than being torn between conflicting factions? Jessica Niesen, came to take Hill away from her home to Florida. We have lots of information about Jessica: religious views are listed as unknown, ethnicity is Native American, and political affiliation is unknown. Or does the law of the land lean toward injustice? Wright was not acting in the best interest of Ms. Hill at that point, because she was doing what she wanted to do and not working with her other co-guardian.. People are assholes. This film is distorted and hurtful, said Davis, one of Ediths granddaughters. Niesen, in a phone interview, said she is still gathering facts and has an upcoming appointment to meet Hill and Harrison. Attempts to ask Wright about this issue and other questions were unsuccessful. The two had been companions for more than a decade before they married. It was concerning, since Im the one who was legally responsible for her and I didnt know what was going on, Niesen said. Rest in heaven! 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 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. 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