Wendy had always hoped that her son, John, would care for her in her later years, but instead he abandoned her on the street. A year later, he was shocked when she appeared at his doorstep, walking on her own two feet.
“Sorry, Mom—I can’t talk right now. I’m with a client and might finally close a sale this year. I’ll have the neighbors check on you, but it’s probably nothing. You must’ve been sitting too long. I’ve got to run; I’ll drop by tonight,” John snapped during their call.
Wendy vividly recalled that conversation—the first time her legs went numb and she panicked, nearly breathless with fear, calling him for help. Even though he lived only a few blocks away, John was too preoccupied to assist her. He never bothered to ask the neighbors to check on her that night, and, in fact, he didn’t sell a single house for the entire year.
It had been a year since Wendy first experienced the sudden numbness in her legs, which initially lasted only 10–15 minutes at a time, leaving her to rest in a corner until the sensation returned. Over time, these episodes grew more frequent until one day she fell and couldn’t get up. Her desperate cries for help were answered by caring neighbors who then alerted John, and he rushed her to the hospital.
Doctors diagnosed Wendy with a rare nerve compression syndrome affecting her lower limbs. For over a year, both she and John dismissed her symptoms, and the injuries from her fall only worsened her condition. Eventually, Wendy ended up confined to a wheelchair.
During the first month of her physiotherapy, John chauffeured her to and from the hospital, yet nothing improved her condition. As Wendy spent her savings on treatment, John’s frustration grew from the constant trips. On several car rides, he coldly remarked, “Mom, you should give up. How many meetings am I supposed to miss? I need to focus on selling houses.” Despite his harsh words, Wendy consoled herself with the thought that he was still her son—even if he wasn’t showing the care she needed.
When neither physiotherapy nor medication helped, the doctors recommended an expensive surgery. Having already exhausted her savings, Wendy turned to John for financial help, but he refused. “Do you know how much rent I pay for my house? I can’t afford to help, and as a realtor, I must maintain a certain lifestyle. Who would buy a house from someone living in a tiny home?” he argued.
Then one day, John received a call from neighbors informing him that Wendy was undergoing surgery at the hospital—a development he had no idea about. He hurried there and found Wendy sitting on her bed in tears while a group of doctors discussed her case. The lead doctor stepped out and asked, “Are you Mr. John Matthews, her son?” After John nodded, the doctor continued, “Where have you been? We waited for a family member, but since no one showed up, we had to break the news directly to Wendy.” When John inquired, “What news?” the doctor explained, “Your mother’s surgery didn’t yield the expected results. There’s still no significant movement in her legs, and we can’t predict any improvement for now. We’ll have to keep a close watch. Wendy has already signed her discharge papers and is free to go.”
John pretended to show empathy as he helped Wendy into a wheelchair and guided her toward his car. He then asked, “How did you manage the money for this?”
“I didn’t want to burden you, so I made the decision on my own,” she replied.
“What decision, Mom?” he pressed.
“I sold the house,” she revealed.
John froze in shock.
“Remember Joanne, my old book club friend who moved away? She introduced me to her nephew, who was looking to buy a house in our area. They even called, saying they’d visit me—”
“Are you serious, Mom? You sold the house because of a failed surgery? That’s so selfish! You never even thought of me—after all, it’s my house too!” John snapped before stopping himself as Wendy’s eyes filled with hurt. She realized that his only concern had been the inheritance, not her well-being.
While Wendy wiped away her tears, John received a call from a prospective customer and walked away to answer it. When he returned, he told her he had an urgent meeting.
“Go ahead, son. As I mentioned, Joanne was coming to see me. I’ll ask her to drop me at the nursing home—I’ve already made arrangements to move there,” Wendy said.
Before John could protest further, another call interrupted him. Shaking his head in disgust, he left, leaving Wendy to sob quietly by the parking lot, feeling utterly abandoned.
A year later, with no word from John, he was surprised one morning when a car pulled up near his driveway. Not expecting any visitors, he stepped outside and saw an elderly woman getting out of the car and rummaging in the glove compartment.
“Can I help you, ma’am?” he asked, puzzled by the unexpected guest.
When the woman turned around, John was stunned to see that it was Wendy—walking on her own two feet.
“Mom, oh my God! How are you?” he exclaimed.
“Much better, son. I’m enjoying every moment,” Wendy replied brightly. Startled by her cheerful tone, John invited her inside and offered her a glass of water.
Unsure of how to bridge the gap between them, Wendy broke the silence. “Don’t look so down, son. Remember when you left me all alone on the street after that failed surgery?” The memory made John’s face go pale.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Getty Images
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Getty Images
Wendy continued, “Shortly after that day, my friend Joanne and her nephew, Evan, arrived. They were heartbroken to see me abandoned by the parking lot and took me in, instead of sending me to a nursing home. Although Joanne had to leave the next day, Evan invited me to stay in what used to be my house—well, his house now, since he bought it from me.”
She added, “Evan cared for me like a son. He even found better doctors in another city. I was terrified of another surgery, but with him by my side, the surgery miraculously succeeded. He also paid for my knee replacement, so now I can not only walk but even run like I did in my youth.”
John was left speechless and embarrassed by his own behavior. He growled, “I know I was a terrible son. But if Evan is so great, why are you still here?”
Just then, another car pulled up, and a young man entered the house.
“Ah, Evan! Perfect timing—we were just talking about you,” Wendy greeted him with a chuckle.
“Excuse me, but you can’t just barge into my house,” John snapped, pointing furiously at Evan.
Evan replied coolly, “But I can enter my own house, can’t I?” which only confused John further.
It turned out that Evan actually owned the house John was living in—a fact John was unaware of because he had only been dealing with the mediating agency. To make matters worse, John had skipped six months’ rent and ignored the agency’s calls. Eventually, the agency notified Evan, who, understanding from Wendy that John was struggling, decided to be lenient and even asked the agency to ease up on him.
However, when Wendy learned of John’s misdeeds, she knew she couldn’t let him off the hook any longer. She urged Evan to take action against him for not paying rent.
“Oh, I almost forgot, son!” Wendy said as she reached into her bag. “Here’s the eviction notice—you have 15 days.” She handed the documents to John and left with Evan.
John sank onto his couch, head in hands, finally realizing that his behavior had led him to rock bottom.
Lessons from the Story
• Take care of your parents. Our parents sacrificed so much to raise us; the least we can do in their old age is care for them. Wendy loved and cared for John, even when he mistreated her, yet he only cared about her property as an inheritance.
• Karma always comes back around. John’s disdain and disrespect ultimately led to his downfall when his own mother played a role in his eviction.
Share this story with your friends—it might brighten their day and serve as a reminder of the importance of family. If you enjoyed this narrative, you might also like another story about a man who encounters his wandering ex-father-in-law, revealing shocking truths from his past.