You are all so kind, and supportive. I don't know what is worse - when John just lays there and doesn't open his eyes, or when he does and looks terrified. I've now discovered that the phrase he used that upset my daughter so much was "where are you, Mummy", and she said the cry he made was plaintive.
John had a lousy childhood, evacuated at 2, and his Mum only lived for 6 months after the war was over, and died of TB at the age of 28. His Dad remarried very quickly and John and his sister, younger by a year, permanently felt in the way. John left school the week before he was 15, worked on a farm for a couple of years and then joined the Army.
His sister married a GI, when she was 16 - the man was 38! She died last year, having been married 6 times. She always said that she never knew her Mum at all, and couldn't remember anything about her, but John had memories. Whenever he talked about his childhood, both my kids were very upset, so he didn't talk about it to them very much.
Yesterday, John was having trouble transferring from the armchair to the wheelchair, even with 3 carers and me helping him. One of the carers asked him if he wanted to get up, or stay in the armchair - and he said "yeah". It just reminded me of Dustin Hoffman in Rainman, and when I got home I sobbed.
Love to everyone on TP and hope things are bearable for you all. xxx
John had a lousy childhood, evacuated at 2, and his Mum only lived for 6 months after the war was over, and died of TB at the age of 28. His Dad remarried very quickly and John and his sister, younger by a year, permanently felt in the way. John left school the week before he was 15, worked on a farm for a couple of years and then joined the Army.
His sister married a GI, when she was 16 - the man was 38! She died last year, having been married 6 times. She always said that she never knew her Mum at all, and couldn't remember anything about her, but John had memories. Whenever he talked about his childhood, both my kids were very upset, so he didn't talk about it to them very much.
Yesterday, John was having trouble transferring from the armchair to the wheelchair, even with 3 carers and me helping him. One of the carers asked him if he wanted to get up, or stay in the armchair - and he said "yeah". It just reminded me of Dustin Hoffman in Rainman, and when I got home I sobbed.
Love to everyone on TP and hope things are bearable for you all. xxx