 After three days, the maid failed to return to work, prompting O'Brien's mother to discharge her, requesting that the awards be returned.Shortly thereafter, O'Brien's mother, who had been sick with a heart condition, suffered a relapse and died.In mourning, 17 year-old O'Brien forgot about the maid and the Oscar until several months later when she tried to contact her, only to find that the maid had moved and had left no forwarding address.