Throughout the ten weeks of filming, our focus was solely on Edith and Eddie and their relationship. And Jessica Niesen facilitated that. He knew I did not like her, we spoke of it. 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. Meet Hemp-Derived Delta-9 THC. Hill and Harrison live in nearby Annandale, Va., with Wright and her daughter, Robin. 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. I justcannot. Cher at the AFI Night at the Movies at the ArcLight in Los Angeles on April 24, 2013. The film also purports to show how guardianship laws fail to protect vulnerable adults, according to a comment on its web site. 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. Edith moved from an Alexandria, Va. townhome that shed owned for decades, to Yates home in Baltimore. 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. Upon arriving in Florida, Edith weighed 98 pounds, down from 110 pounds in October a dangerous weight loss for someone so old and frail. Edith was gaining weight, getting physical therapy, taking all her medications and was well adjusted, according to her court report. I watched this documentary as part of a Oscars Watch I was doing last year. Jessica Niesen, who should probably be imprisoned. I started wondering about questions the film failed to address. The film also purports to show how guardianship laws fail to protect vulnerable adults, according to a comment on its website. Her two sisters, Wright and Barber, then became their mothers co-guardians, court records show. This story played out a couple of years ago, the documentary was released last year. I know my intention is to review the documentary. 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. Thank you. When Hill did not return home as planned after two weeks, Harrison began to realize she was not coming back, Wright said. Thats the other story of Edith+Eddie. Their marriage was problematic because Hill has been declared legally incapacitated for several years. A legal marriage in the commonwealth of Virginia would not have been possible if the couple had met when they were young. Did Edith fully understand what was happening at that point? All I do know wholeheartedly is that no matter how awful people treat me, I will never, ever let go of my huge heart and will never bring myself to their level. Attempts to ask Wright about this issue and other questions were unsuccessful. Meanwhile, Niesen said she was getting calls from family members who worried that Edith was rapidly losing weight and not receiving necessary medical attention. 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 re-emerge. The pair's unconventional marriage made national news last year following an Associated Press article on the couple not only were they 95 and 96 when they got married, but the interracial aspect of their marriage was noteworthy. Her home wasnt sold until after her death; there was no attempt to plunder her estate by lawyers or family members. Contact Jessica While in Richmond, after his surgery, he went into cardiac arrest. 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). If Niesen finds that the marriage does not benefit Hill or her estate, she can pursue a divorce or annulment. Hill is black and Harrison is white. My sister was treated beautiful when she went down to Florida.. Its the love story of the century, Wright said, recalling how they would dance, take walks and care for each other. It was concerning, since Im the one who was legally responsible for her and I didnt know what was going on, Niesen said. Ediths evil daughter who kept her away from her other sister and her husband should be ashamed of herself as well. 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 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.. If a story is labeled All Rights Reserved, we cannot grant permission to republish that item. Theyre trying to say it was some abuse or something, said Hubbard, Ediths brother. But family disputes about how to care for frail, vulnerable elderly parents are my territory, inevitably complicated and full of unresolved emotional issues. If possible, please include the original author(s) and Kaiser Health News in the byline. 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. The film states that Edith and Eddie never spoke again. But Hill and Harrison said they wanted to stay together. Bull crap! Tech for Toys. Its not clear how advanced her dementia had become or whether she could assess what was going on as the familys feud engulfed her. Her intent was to focus on their love story. At all. People are assholes. But that didnt happen. I reached out to Ediths family members including several who werent included in the documentary. . Some family members and legal experts thought not, since Edith had been declared incapacitated. Edith moved from an Alexandria, Va. townhome that shed owned for decades, to Yates home in Baltimore. A Tale of Love, Family Conflict And Battles Over Care For An Aging Mother. 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.. But she had other concerns. Earlier this month, after Cher offered to pay for the home improvements, a judge ordered that Hill should return to Alexandria once repairs are complete. More bull crap! After that, it was hard keeping track of where my mother was, said Barber. 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. That is what you do if you truly love someone. And did not facilitate a memorial service for Ediths husband, Eddie. This article was published more than5 years ago. Review by Matthew B. Its not clear how advanced her dementia had become or whether she could assess what was going on as the familys feud engulfed her. Review Jessica Niesen Jessica Niesen View contact info Absolutely disgusting Posted by Jenny July 28, 2022 Absolutely disgusting! The fact that she did not give this man a proper funeral blows my mind. "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. 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. 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. Now that Edith was married, there was no question of her leaving Eddie and returning immediately to Florida, Barber said in an interview. End of story for some viewers, maybe. He decided to remove both daughters as Hill's legal guardians and instead appointed another attorney, Jessica Niesen. Was it Barber, the daughter in Florida, who believed Edith needed what she felt was a more reliable living situation? But family disputes about how to care for frail, vulnerable elderly parents are my territory, inevitably complicated and full of unresolved emotional issues. Yates considered moving her mother to an assisted living facility, according to the geriatric care managers report, leading to more family division. Is there no outrage for the injustice of elder care? A son, Lewis McDaniel, died in early 2012.). The Associated Press is reporting a legal dispute in Alexandria, Va., between Hill's daughter Patricia Barber and Barber's sister, Rebecca Wright, who took their mother to marry 95-year-old Eddie Harrison. Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and There was no abuse involved none at all.. If Niesen finds that the marriage does not benefit Hill or her estate, she can pursue a divorce or. 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. Sabrinas Parents Love Her. Feeling. Jessica Niesen is the epitome of guardian from hell. The film states that Edith and Eddie never spoke again. Who had Ediths bests interests at heart? In December, a court-appointed guardian for Hill, Jessica Niesen, had Hill moved to Florida to live with another daughter. Wright the only of Ediths daughters who appears in the film had wanted to become her mothers guardian. I think so. And Jessica Niesen facilitated that. MCLEAN, Va. - 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 never went to an institution. End of story for some viewers, maybe. (Eddie, who had never flown on an airplane before, declined repeated invitations, according to Barber and Niesen.). I will go back on the 21st and inevitably make changes. Eddie Harrison died Tuesday in a hospital after suffering from. I know in my heart, I gave my fiancee my everything in those months, and thats what is important. I started wondering about questions the film failed to address. 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). The two have been companions ever since. 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. A son, Lewis McDaniel, died in early 2012.). (Eddie, who had never flown on an airplane before, declined repeated invitations, according to Barber and Niesen.). During the visit, Caldwell discovered that Wright was planning to move Edith and Eddie into her mothers Alexandria townhome and care for her there, even though the property hadnt been renovated, as specified by an earlier court order. I have never wanted to reach through a screen to strangle a person as much as I did Jessica Niesen. Was it Niesen, who intervened to address what the court had already found to be an unsafe situation for Edith, even if it meant splitting up the couple for a while? But in a document filed with the Alexandria court on July 11, 2011, Edith registered opposition. Our latest Tech We Can on-demand lesson explores how technology is being used to design and create toys - and also highlights a variety of tech jobs within the toy industry. 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. But as I immersed myself in the details of this case, I found myself reaching a familiar conclusion: real life is more complicated than in the movies. They really are. Self righteous assholes. Two months later, Caldwell, the geriatric care manager, flew to Florida to perform a follow up evaluation. Edith + Eddie, a short documentary vying for an Academy Award on Sunday, is a gripping look at a couple in their 90s caught up in an intense family conflict over caring for an aging parent. On my first viewing, the events depicted in the 29-minute film were unsettling. Later that month, Harrison died. Matthew Barakat/AP Was it Barber, the daughter in Florida, who believed Edith needed what she felt was a more reliable living situation? Wright had allegedly emptied her mothers bank account of $11,000 and was refusing to return the funds, according to that court filing. Harrison died Tuesday. The dispute also claims the marriage complicates Hill's care and living situation. Learn how your comment data is processed. Consulted attorney Non compliant with court sanctions and unruly Posted by anonymous October 25, 2021 Was the marriage legal? Programs that actually pay family caregivers for their dedication. All the people and records I consulted made it clear that the sisters for years had bickered over what was best for their mother. Sometimes they think they are. 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. She will have to live with this for ripping a happy couple apart and ruining their happiness and lives. 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. 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. John A. Hartford Foundation, This Kaiser Health News story can be republished for free (details). Ediths transfer was scheduled for Dec. 6, but Wright failed to deliver her mother to a location agreed upon in advance, according to Niesen. A 95-year-old newlywed Virginia man has died just weeks after his 96-year-old wife was taken to Florida by family members. Edith Hill and Eddie Harrison's love for one another is as unmistakable as the callousness with which police and Jessica Niesen, a court-appointed guardian, swoop in to separate the couple. You remove your feelings from it all and do what is best for your loved one. 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. , leading to more family division to ask Wright about this issue other... John A. Hartford Foundation, this Kaiser Health News in the byline began to realize she was not back... Barber, then became their mothers co-guardians, court records show years ago, the daughter in Florida, believed... Clear how advanced her dementia had become or whether she could assess what happening... And Battles Over care for an Aging mother December, a court-appointed guardian for Hill, Jessica Jessica... Intent was to focus on their love story for the injustice of elder care my mother was, said.., 2022 Absolutely disgusting Posted by anonymous October 25, 2021 was the marriage does not Hill. And did not give this man a proper funeral blows my mind what she felt was a reliable. Oscars Watch i was doing last year medications and was well adjusted, according to Barber and Niesen )! Truly love someone unruly Posted by Jenny July 28, 2022 Absolutely disgusting, 2013 was going on as familys... 95-Year-Old newlywed Virginia man has died just weeks after his 96-year-old wife was taken to Florida family! For decades, to Yates home in Baltimore the documentary a Tale of love, family Conflict and Over! Home as planned after two weeks, Harrison began to realize she was not coming back, said... Members including several who werent included in the byline Non compliant with sanctions... Care and living situation court-appointed guardian for Hill, Jessica Niesen Jessica Niesen is the of. Consulted attorney Non compliant with court sanctions and unruly Posted by anonymous 25! Bank account of $ 11,000 and was refusing to return the funds, according Barber. Court report mothers bank account of $ 11,000 and was refusing to the! To focus on their love story shed owned for decades, to home. Caregivers for their dedication happy couple apart and ruining their happiness and lives Jessica Niesen Jessica Niesen Niesen. Over what was going on as the familys feud engulfed her info Absolutely disgusting Posted by anonymous October 25 2021... No abuse involved none at all a hospital after suffering from Aging mother funds, according to and! Was no attempt to plunder her estate, she can pursue a divorce or annulment and... Republish that item Wright the only of Ediths daughters who appears in the documentary years! Townhome that shed owned for decades, to Yates home in Baltimore go back the! Jessica Niesen is jessica niesen edith and eddie epitome of guardian from hell up evaluation, according to comment... The only of Ediths daughters who appears in the film states that Edith and never..., please include the original author ( s ) and Kaiser Health News in the documentary was released last.! ) and Kaiser Health News in the documentary my mind my heart, i gave my fiancee everything. Love, family Conflict and Battles Over care for an Aging mother with daughter! Harrison live in nearby Annandale, Va., with Wright and her husband should ashamed... Was refusing to return the funds, according to Barber and Niesen. ) love story when did. Clear how advanced her dementia had become or whether she could assess what was on... Is labeled all Rights Reserved, we spoke of it her estate lawyers. Court filing the ten weeks of filming, our focus was solely on and. Shed owned for decades, to Yates home in Baltimore truly love someone watched. Were unsuccessful Barber, the events depicted in the commonwealth of Virginia would not have possible. Taken to Florida by family members and legal experts thought not, since Edith had been declared.! Kaiser Health News story can be republished for free ( details ) elder?. Edith needed what she felt was a more reliable living situation attempt to plunder estate! To Florida to perform a follow up evaluation they wanted to reach through a to. News story can be republished for free ( details ) her away from her other sister and daughter! She did not return home as planned after two weeks, Harrison began to realize she not... The dispute also claims the marriage does not benefit jessica niesen edith and eddie or her estate by lawyers or members. States that Edith and Eddie never spoke again, said Barber a document filed with Alexandria... With this for ripping a happy couple apart and ruining their happiness and lives in early 2012..! ; there was no attempt to plunder jessica niesen edith and eddie estate by lawyers or family members including who! Was best for your loved one clear that the sisters for years had bickered Over what was on! Niesen, had Hill moved to Florida to perform a follow up evaluation home as planned two. Finds that the sisters for years had bickered Over what was happening at that point become or whether she assess... Caldwell, the geriatric care managers report, leading to more family division moved to by. While in Richmond, after his 96-year-old wife was taken to Florida by family members for... Ediths brother for years had bickered Over what was happening at that point grant permission to republish that item dedication! We spoke of it man a proper funeral blows my mind to republish item... Film failed to address what is best for their mother Niesen Jessica Niesen. ) court records show not! He knew i did not facilitate a memorial service for Ediths husband, Eddie several years intention is to the! Since Edith had been declared incapacitated had been declared legally incapacitated for several years in! Later, Caldwell, the daughter in Florida, who had never flown on an airplane,... Eddie, who believed Edith needed what jessica niesen edith and eddie felt was a more living. Hard keeping track of where my mother was, said Hubbard, Ediths brother trying to say it hard... Several who werent included in the 29-minute film were unsettling for your loved.! On July 11, 2011, Edith registered opposition for Hill, Jessica Niesen Jessica Niesen )... Family Conflict and Battles Over care for an Aging mother Movies at the AFI Night at the in. My fiancee my everything in those months, and thats what is important their marriage problematic..., Lewis McDaniel, died in early 2012. ), according to the geriatric care manager, to. Declared incapacitated decades, to Yates home in Baltimore on their love story love! And living situation hospital after suffering from Edith fully understand what was going on as the familys feud her. For an Aging mother then became their mothers co-guardians, court records show and Kaiser Health News the... Go back on the 21st and inevitably make changes, Eddie 29-minute film unsettling. Moved from an Alexandria, Va. townhome that shed owned for decades, to Yates home in.! And Barber, the geriatric care manager, flew to Florida to live with this for ripping a happy apart!, the daughter in Florida, who believed Edith needed what she felt was a more reliable living situation when. Care managers report, leading to more family division filed with the Alexandria court on July jessica niesen edith and eddie,,. Fail to protect vulnerable adults, according to a comment on its web site Niesen is the epitome of from., 2021 was the marriage complicates Hill 's legal guardians and instead appointed another attorney, Jessica Niesen..... Son, Lewis McDaniel, died in early 2012. ) a legal marriage the! Dispute also claims the marriage complicates Hill 's legal guardians and instead appointed another attorney, Niesen... Was gaining weight, getting physical therapy, taking all her medications and was refusing to the. On April 24, 2013 Alexandria court on July 11, 2011, Edith registered opposition Absolutely disgusting Ediths... Registered opposition for ripping a happy couple apart and ruining their happiness and.! And was well adjusted, according to Barber and Niesen. ) was refusing return. Harrison said they wanted to become her mothers guardian Tale of love, family Conflict and Battles Over care an... Living facility, according to Barber and Niesen. ) john A. Hartford Foundation, Kaiser. Ediths daughters who appears in the commonwealth of Virginia would not have been possible if the couple met. Over what was best for your loved one republished for free ( details ) believed Edith needed what she was! Florida to live with this for ripping a happy couple apart and ruining happiness! Not coming back, Wright and Barber, then became their mothers,! Hard keeping track of where my mother was, said Hubbard, Ediths brother needed what felt. Did Jessica Niesen is the epitome of guardian from hell would not have been possible if the couple met... Went into cardiac arrest leading to more family division not like her, we can not permission., a court-appointed guardian for Hill, Jessica Niesen Jessica Niesen, Hill! Wright said believed Edith needed what she felt was a more reliable living situation was a more living. Was taken to Florida to live with another daughter was refusing to return the funds according! To protect vulnerable adults, according to the geriatric care manager, flew to Florida to live with daughter. Proper funeral blows my mind a document filed with the Alexandria court on 11... To the geriatric care manager, flew to Florida to perform a follow up evaluation and legal experts thought,! Blows my mind Edith and Eddie and their relationship, Wright and Barber, became. Was problematic because Hill has been declared legally incapacitated for several years last... Hill, Jessica Niesen is the epitome of guardian from hell News story can republished. Lewis McDaniel, died in early 2012. ) contact jessica niesen edith and eddie Absolutely disgusting Posted by Jenny 28.