As many of you know there comes a time when kids have to take care of their parents. And as challenging as that can be it is also a blessing. To return the love and care that was given you.
So here's the brief story:
2 years ago I visited my Dad in Victoria to help him during his knee replacement surgery. A pretty common surgery but one that opened my eyes to how much help my sweet papa bear actually needed. It also broke my heart.
He was and is suffering financially due to choosing a career that he loved but required him to be on his feet for hours on end, and now, can no longer do. He's trying his best to find a job but has had no luck due to his lack of mobility. He sadly has had to leave his home and move into a financially assisted apartment.
He also was in need of mental support, so I became his mental health advocate. Luckily there are resources to make such things affordable to seniors that he, to my great joy, utilizes. Dad is doing his best to deal with his Arthritis as well, however, I can hear in his voice the pain he is in, even though he tries to hide it.
Dad has always struggled with being social and opening up to others. He has made such amazing progress over the past two years in making friends, and making an effort to be social and be with people. He is finally starting to see the importance of his community in helping him feel loved, accepted, and have purpose.
The knee replacement has exacerbated his hip bursitis, and hasn't really made much of a difference to his mobility. It is still hard for him to walk far at all. Therefore he relies heavily on his car for everything; Groceries, trying to sell wine, going to the bank, nightly visits to the ocean at sunset, and to get to be with his close friends and supporters...
2 days ago, his car died in the middle of the road. Hoping it was something simple and repairable, we got the bad news that sadly it was completely dead and unsalvageable. Dad needs a car. Badly.
Not a fancy one, just something that runs and doesn't cost a ton to keep.
If I could buy him a car I would, but I am in no position myself financially to do so. And so I reach out to you. Friends, family, new people I've never met. To help support my dad in this holiday season. And with fear of being super darn cheesy, perhaps make a Christmas miracle come true.
A car would mean the world to him. It gives him the ability to feel human and have a sense of pride. It allows him to get around to see the people he loves, to make his therapy appointments, to pyshio, to the gym, to his weekly coffee meetings with his buddies from his college years. Not being able to take care of yourself is heartbreaking, and not being able to afford to take care of my Dad makes me tear up every time I think of it.
So please, if you can spare 5 dollars or a thousand dollars (Oprah), anything and I mean anything, is so appreciated down to the deepest part of my heart.
I would love to be able to pay for a car for him by January 1st. So here's hoping for that miracle.
With love & the utmost gratitude,
-Aili
So here's the brief story:
2 years ago I visited my Dad in Victoria to help him during his knee replacement surgery. A pretty common surgery but one that opened my eyes to how much help my sweet papa bear actually needed. It also broke my heart.
He was and is suffering financially due to choosing a career that he loved but required him to be on his feet for hours on end, and now, can no longer do. He's trying his best to find a job but has had no luck due to his lack of mobility. He sadly has had to leave his home and move into a financially assisted apartment.
He also was in need of mental support, so I became his mental health advocate. Luckily there are resources to make such things affordable to seniors that he, to my great joy, utilizes. Dad is doing his best to deal with his Arthritis as well, however, I can hear in his voice the pain he is in, even though he tries to hide it.
Dad has always struggled with being social and opening up to others. He has made such amazing progress over the past two years in making friends, and making an effort to be social and be with people. He is finally starting to see the importance of his community in helping him feel loved, accepted, and have purpose.
The knee replacement has exacerbated his hip bursitis, and hasn't really made much of a difference to his mobility. It is still hard for him to walk far at all. Therefore he relies heavily on his car for everything; Groceries, trying to sell wine, going to the bank, nightly visits to the ocean at sunset, and to get to be with his close friends and supporters...
2 days ago, his car died in the middle of the road. Hoping it was something simple and repairable, we got the bad news that sadly it was completely dead and unsalvageable. Dad needs a car. Badly.
Not a fancy one, just something that runs and doesn't cost a ton to keep.
If I could buy him a car I would, but I am in no position myself financially to do so. And so I reach out to you. Friends, family, new people I've never met. To help support my dad in this holiday season. And with fear of being super darn cheesy, perhaps make a Christmas miracle come true.
A car would mean the world to him. It gives him the ability to feel human and have a sense of pride. It allows him to get around to see the people he loves, to make his therapy appointments, to pyshio, to the gym, to his weekly coffee meetings with his buddies from his college years. Not being able to take care of yourself is heartbreaking, and not being able to afford to take care of my Dad makes me tear up every time I think of it.
So please, if you can spare 5 dollars or a thousand dollars (Oprah), anything and I mean anything, is so appreciated down to the deepest part of my heart.
I would love to be able to pay for a car for him by January 1st. So here's hoping for that miracle.
With love & the utmost gratitude,
-Aili
Organizer
Aili Storen
Organizer
Vancouver, BC