The document was pretty clear. It quickly settled the dispute between the sons, who were relieved to be able to honor their mother’s wishes. The ventilator was removed, and she died two days later.
"When I attended the memorial service, the sons expressed their gratitude to me," said Story. Later, each son became his client. "They were beneficiaries of her estate, and they kept the assets with me," he added.
In time, one of the sons died. The other remains Story's client to this day.
The lesson in this, Story reflected, is that a single document can reap huge rewards. It allowed the widow's final wishes to be realized, and it resolved a heated clash between her sons.
"All the result of a simple on-boarding process," he stressed. It could've been avoided. Many people don't like to face these profoundly difficult decisions. But when they do, the results are immeasurable. Story relates this tale to all future clients who are hesitant to address health-care directives. The moral of Story's story is that addressing important questions now can pay big dividends later for clients and the next generation.