When Norma, who was living with leukemia, became unable to safely live alone after a hospital stay, Chris first tried to help by raising money for her care.
When that became difficult to sustain, he made a much bigger decision.
He invited Norma to move into his apartment.
Her cat came with her.
And during her final weeks, she was surrounded by someone who knew her, cared about her, and wanted her there.
There was no guarantee that the situation would become easier.
There was no promise of recovery.
There was no dramatic miracle.
There was simply presence.
A young man making room in his life for an older woman he had come to love like family.
Her illness changed everything about her circumstances.
But it did not change the fact that she mattered.
And perhaps that is the part of the story worth remembering most.
Sometimes family isn’t determined by blood.
