A Worn Path: Dead or Alive?

I'm sorry but I really thought this story was just irrelavent. Nothing really happened to capture my interest. However, the one thing that did catch my attention was Phoenix's grandson. Was Phoenix a delusional old woman who couldn't remember that her grandson was dead or was she actually trying to help him get better? I tend to lean towards the idea that he is dead. First off, when she walked into the doctor's office, she couldn't even remember what she was there for. Also, the woman in the doctor's office even asked her about her grandson being dead. To me, I'll take this woman's word for it since it seems as though Phoenix has lost her mind over the years. However, whether the grandson is alive or not does not take away from the thematic message of love and devotion conveyed in Phoenix's character. Just like the story as a whole, this question of whether the grandson is dead or alive is just simply irrelavent.