Heartbreaking.

Yesterday's Wall Street Journal published the heartbreaking article When Crisis Hits the Disabled: Limited Options for Support and Housing Exist for Aging Caregivers and Their Children.

Sigh.

This article begins with 79 year old Anna Dromgoole arriving at a Plano, TX hospital with leg wounds, accompanied by her son, 41 year old Kent Dromgoole, who has Down syndrome. She refused to be admitted unless Kent could stay with her - which he could, so she was. Sadly (so very, very sad), Anna went into respiratory and now Kent is alone. All alone.

Ms. Dromgoole refused to be admitted unless Mr. Dromgoole could stay with her.She, like thousands of other aging caregivers across the country, had no place for her developmentally disabled child to go. When crisis hits, they find themselves at the mercy of strangers.

This is one of my worst nightmares...leaving my precious Emma is such a frightening grief stricken situation without any supports. This cannot happen to her. Ever. It is so many shades of not okay I don't even know where to begin.

An estimated 2.9 million people with intellectual or developmental disabilities or some significant functional limitation live with caregivers -- mainly parents -- who are 55 years or older.

About 80,000 people with developmental disabilities nationwide are on waiting lists for various services to help them live in the community. Texas, alone, has about 35,000 people waiting for home and community services, in spite of funding last year to serve additional people.

Social Services at Plano Specialty Hospital in Texas are desperately trying to find a place for Kent to go. Beth Lambdin, Plano Specialty's clinical liaison, a stranger three short weeks ago, has taken Kent under her wing and has become his sole support. If no other means are found for him, she will take him home with her.

Ms. Lambdin continues to search for an appropriate local residence for Kent. If nothing materializes, she will bring Mr. Dromgoole home to live with her husband and three young daughters, ages 11, 9 and 5. The stairs on their split-level home would be hard for Kent, who weighs about 260 pounds, but not impossible.

"I've got feelers out everywhere," says Ms. Lambdin. "Unless by some miracle, someone comes in and says they have him covered, he'll come home with me."

Thank the gods for Ms. Lambdin. But not everyone has a Ms. Lambdin.

Not at all.