Kyomen
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17
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So, two years ago my grandfather had a stroke and it's rendered him unable to take care of himself. I love him to death, but I can tell he hates living this way. He used to be this big, 85 year old guy who was jacked. Always taking care of his wife and family when the need arose. He was cheerful and happy. Now he can't walk or even eat properly by himself. Hell, he can't even talk without it sounding like a muffled, foreign language.
I love him to death. I help take care of him and it inspired me to start making my own foods and dishes. I don't mind any of that, but I just hate this unfathomable sadness I see in his eyes every time I see him now. He's slender and I can tell he feels like people look down on him now. I just don't want him to feel that way anymore. I try to hang out and do my best to make him feel better, even when he went to PT to get his ability to walk back, I was there to help out and try to encourage him. He gave up on that after six or so months. He'd go, but he wouldn't try anymore when he got home.
My grandmother isn't the kind of person to listen to you unless you take charge either. He can't do that anymore now, so she doesn't really listen to him. I hate knowing how he feels. He'd never let anyone know how he felt. He's like a 30's/40's OG who changed how he behaved to take care of his family and provide. Talking about how he feels isn't even something that'd cross his mind. I've tried, but he just doesn't want to. I know how he thinks. It's almost insulting, in his mind, to think he'd even feel down about something like this.
TL;DR:
Grandpa had a stroke a while ago and gave up on trying to fix his body shortly after. He's super depressed and there's nothing I can do for him. I hate knowing he feels this way and feels useless. I don't know what else I can do for him.
Syphilouis
Getting old sucks ass.
bigpeeler
I'll bet he does too.
ThatsNoMoonItsaSpaceStation
I work on the stroke unit at our hospital. Strokes suck ass.
GryphonHunter
That's why I wish doctor assisted suicide was available in the states
SaltyandSweet
My dad had a stroke and the idea of giving up on him would kill me.
BadMako
That's pretty heavy OP... and dark
Kyomen
I'm not one for making my feelings known either, but I show concern by trying to get him to tell me how he feels. He knows I'm worried.
Kyomen
I just don't know what to do for him. I don't like watching him suffer and give up on everything. We all try to push him, but he just quit.
BadMako
Would he be open to therapy?
Kyomen
I've talked with him about it. "I'm not crazy. Don't need one"
BadMako
K ... I'm thinking if you told him how you felt, would that help? ... could hurt further, but you know him better (obviously)
QuaqueNocte
Holidays coming up. Perhaps you can look for gifts for stroke victims to help with his daily life so he can at least have some control.
Kyomen
I did that year 1. He just doesn't use any of it. I feel like he feels like it's a constant reminder of what he can't do anymore.
QuaqueNocte
Have you tried manlier versions of said objects? Like shaped like a gun or covered in blood. Boobs somewhere.
Kyomen
Lol. My grandpa isn't a gun guy (anymore). Doesn't do blood stuff and think black christian family (excluding myself).
QuaqueNocte
Oh, he black. Yeah, you might be in some trouble. Is he in any kind of therapy or support group?
Kyomen
He was in physical therapy for six months, but he gave up even though we kept trying to get him to work on it.