When we stop at the front desk of the ICU to check in, the nurse asks us to wait for Dr. Calloway. Apparently, something new has developed with my mom and he wants to talk to me about it. To say I'm nervous would be an understatement. I'm sure she's gotten worse; I'll be an orphan by tomorrow, I just know it.

Five minutes later he walks out of the double doors and sits down across from us. He looks at me, then to Mrs. Stephens, asking permission to talk freely in front ...