I Woke After 11 Days and Found My 9-Year-Old Grandson Asleep Beside My Hospital Bed—Then He Whispered, “Pretend You’re Still in a Coma”

“If you have capacity, you can revoke the health-care power of attorney for future periods of incapacity and execute a new one.”

“Name you.”

Arthur grimaced.

“I am seventy-four, Helen.”

“You’re annoyingly alive.”

“Still.”

He suggested naming my friend Margaret, a retired nurse, as primary health-care agent and Arthur as backup.

Better.