Elvie's Friends to the rescue

Late November - December 2021 

Several of Elvie's long-time friends were unable to locate Elvie in late-November 2021 though many attempts were made through their usual means of communication.  In late November of 2021, contact was finally established with Elvie's niece who then resided outside of Texas.  At that time, her long-time friends were advised that Elvie had been admitted to a hospital for COVID earlier and could not be contacted.  Her friends asked to be advised as soon as they could see or speak to Elvie.  In December 2021, friends learned Elvie had been placed in a "behavioral" hospital in Katy, Texas.  Finally, one of Elvie's friends was able to speak to her on the phone but Elvie was crying uncontrollably and begging to be picked up.  Elvie didn't understand why she was there, and she was clearly living in fear. That concerning information was shared with Elvie's niece who told Elvie's friend later that the facility had been contacted and she was confident Elvie was fine.  At that time the friends were told that Elvie could not see anyone or speak to anyone as it was too upsetting for her. 

January 24, 2022

After continued isolation from Elvie, her friends became even more concerned about her health and welfare.  Learning of her new location, one friend made an unannounced visit to the Spring Branch Transitional Care Center to check on Elvie.  She was shocked to find her friend in such dire straits.  After seeing the deplorable conditions her friend had been left in, she knew others needed to be made aware.  She returned January 21 and 22, 2022 and then again with another long-time friend on January 24, 2022. On each visit Elvie was found in the same dirty food-stained clothes as on previous days, double-diapered, smelly, heavily drugged, dehydrated and in poor physical condition.  Her friends advised the facility that Elvie would be leaving with them for dinner.  After talking more to Elvie, they felt it was not safe for her to return to that facility and especially wrong to return her there against her will.  They contacted an attorney familiar with Elvie's situation. and immediately took Elvie to the attorney's office for a meeting. Elvie stayed with her long-time friends in the comfort and safety of their homes from January 24 - 29, 2022.

March 20, 2022

Elvie's friends were alerted that Elvie had been placed in the Guadalupe Valley Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Sequin, Texas.  A family member who had remained close to Elvie over the years had recently visited her at the facility.  Her relative left there extremely concerned, as Elvie made many comments indicating that she would take her own life if she was forced to remain locked up.  Once again, her friends came to her rescue as there were indications Elvie might be relocated yet again the next day.  When Elvie's friends arrived at the facility, they immediately asked if she wanted to stay there - her answer was a strong "NO."  They dressed her in the clean clothes they brought and advised the staff that she would not be returning.  Elvie was elated to be free again and glad to see the Sequin Police who had been called to the facility.  Elvie, with her close friends again was finally able to relax in comfort, move freely about, and be treated with kindness and respect.  Though major life changes are always challenging, Elvie ("G-MA" to the Devine kids and grandkids) looked forward to being in her new home with her dear friends of many decades, John and Nubia Devine.