From Hidden Brain Media, I'm Shankar Vedantam.

This is My Unsung Hero, stories where one person reached out to help another in a time

of need.

My unsung hero is the kind stranger who helped me get to my grandfather's funeral.

And he just says, today, you, tomorrow, me.

And I never...

Thank you.

Thank you very much for changing my life.

Today's story comes from Ashley Ludlow.

For as long as Ashley can remember, her mother, Judy, struggled with mental illness.

In 2005, Judy attempted to take her own life.

As soon as Ashley and her family found out, they wanted to rush to Florida to be by her side.

But Hurricane Katrina made it impossible for them to get there right away.

For anyone that has lost a loved one to suicide, you know how difficult.

This is all of the mixed emotions, the guilt, the sadness.

I didn't want my mom to suffer, but I also didn't the guilt, the sadness.

I didn't want my mom to suffer,

but I also didn't want my mom to end up living not as herself.

That is not what she would have wanted at all.

I did ask since I was medical power of attorney if I could please make my mom a DNR,

which is a do not resuscitate order so that if she stopped breathing,

they wouldn't try to get her back again.

...