What in the World?!: A Southern Woman's Guide to Laughing at Life's Unexpected Curveballs and Beautiful Blessings

In February of 2020, Morgan went to Florida for a girls’ weekend with her sister and youngest daughter, who was turning 21. They were transferring planes home in Atlanta when Chuck called to tell them that Lucille had a stroke. In tears, the women rerouted their flight to Nashville, where Lucille was at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. 

Emergency surgery had stopped the stroke, and Lucille was sent home to recover. She had to use a walker to get around, but she seemed to be recovering well. However, fluid began pooling in the back of her brain, and she woke up from a second surgery with quadruple vision. She could no longer walk or swallow. She stayed in the hospital for weeks recovering, but she never complained once.

Lucille was released from the hospital just as the COVID-19 pandemic was gathering momentum. Morgan’s tour was postponed, but her disappointment was mixed with the relief that she could be home to care for her mother. In October of 2020, Morgan got sick with COVID, but as soon as she tested negative, she was back to help at her parents’ house. 

In December, Lucille was admitted to the hospital again. The hospital still had strict restrictions on visitors due to the pandemic, so Morgan was the only one who could stay with her mother.