I called Dr. Allen Cusack of Cusack Mortuary at 5:45 PM EDT. He was unavailable, so I left a message with someone there and asked him to return my call when he could.

Dr. Cusack called me at 9:30 PM EDT and — even though he is clearly a very busy man — talked to me for thirteen minutes. He is a very gentle, kind, and caring person. I explained to him that the Volusia County Medical Examiner was refusing to perform an autopsy, so I was going to be forced to hire a pathologist and do it privately.

He assured me that my mother’s body was safe and at peace and that his staff would not let anything disrespectful happen to her, and I trust him.