After Heart Surgery, I Woke Up to Learn My Three Children Had Gone Home Because Hospital Parking Was Too Expensive. I Lay There in Tears Until a Well-Dressed Stranger Entered,

Jell-O. At eight, my surgeon had described my recovery as

“textbook.” Their voices came first: Sarah laughing, Michael discussing a vending machine, David urging quiet. Sarah entered carrying cellophane-wrapped yellow roses, followed by Michael with a GET WELL SOON balloon. David, last, wore his gray work suit and held a manila envelope.

“Mom!” Sarah said brightly. “Look at you! You’re awake!” Sarah kissed my cheek, smelling of perfume and coffee, and set the roses beside my Jell-O.

“We were here all day yesterday,” she said. “You were so out of