Honoring Elizabeth: The Never Alone Project by Dr. James Dobson

February 20-21, 2023
Guest: Steve Reiter

Part 1
Steve Reiter was madly in love with his wife, Elizabeth. After getting married in 2001, they had two sons. Years later, she was diagnosed with lupus and pulmonary hypertension, which led to her hospitalization in 2020. On today’s edition of Family Talk, Steve shares that because it happened at the beginning of the COVID pandemic, he was not allowed in the room to see his wife. Tragically, Elizabeth died alone, prompting Steve to create The Never Alone Project. Because patients thrive when a loved one is present, he advocates that at least one person be allowed to stay with a loved one at all times.

Part 2
When COVID-19 hit in early 2020, hospitals restricted family members access to their loved ones’ rooms. Without the comfort of an advocate or the desperately needed human touch at their bedside, many patients become more sick or die. On today’s edition of Family Talk, Steve Reiter continues to share the heartbreaking story of his wife, Elizabeth, who died alone in her hospital room during the pandemic. Thanks to Steve’s organization, ten states are moving toward a reasonable accommodation for a loved one to be allowed in the room around the clock through “Never Die Alone” bills.