The aftermath no one saw coming
While Dillon suffered bruising and shock, Pauline initially appeared to have survived with relatively minor physical injuries. But the pain in her ribs was intense, and over the following weeks, it only worsened.
“Mom kept saying, ‘Something’s off. Something isn’t right,’” Dillon recalled.
At first, doctors attributed the pain to bruised ribs, possible hairline fractures. They advised rest, warm compresses, and patience. But Pauline knew her body. She had spent years trapped in it — years learning its signals, its warnings.
“I remember her telling me one night, ‘Dillon, this pain isn’t normal. My body’s trying to tell me something.’”
Over the next few months, new symptoms piled on: digestive issues, nausea, loss of appetite, severe fatigue. She grew weaker, slower, visibly uncomfortable.
In July, she reached a breaking point. After days of vomiting and barely being able to swallow, Dillon rushed her to the ER. “She couldn’t keep anything down,” he said. “Not water, not juice, nothing.”
Doctors finally discovered a blockage in her esophagus. Food and liquids simply couldn’t pass through. It explained the weight loss, the dehydration, the confusion. But treating her was difficult — her nutritional levels were dangerously low, and surgery was considered too risky until she regained strength.
Then, as if fate wasn’t done with her yet, August brought another devastating blow: COVID-19.