The doctors said Mom couldn't be alone. In June, I resigned from my teaching position, packed some belongings, and headed south-with three kids, two cats, and a dog-to St Augustine, Florida, to take care of mom. Mom had been diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a respiratory disease, and every breath exhausted her. I thought Mom and I could fight this illness together. I pictured happy days where we would picnic as a family at the beach, tour the town for garage sales, eat at wharf-side restaurants, and spend long nights watching classic television. Instead, Mom's...