13 November 2005

Suggestions, anyone...?

My friend is having a very rough time right now.  Her mother is in a nursing home, with dementia progressed to the point that she doesn't recognize her own daughter much of the time.  My friend took care of her during high-school and college years, before her mom went into the nursing home.

My friend is very intelligent.  She knows lots about the political processes.  She was one of the founding members of the Green Party in Mississippi.

She is frustrated because she tires more easily, grows more easily confused, and has periods of depression that really get her down.  Sometimes she feels as though she is losing her mind.  This last thing is by far the worst for her.

Her father is dying.  He has colon cancer and is not responding to the chemo and the other treatments.  It may have spread to his liver, to his stomach, and elsewhere.

She is 30.  In her 20s, she had cancer, a brain tumor.  After chemo and surgery, she struggled with recovery and remission.

She wants to be strong for her dad.  She doesn't want him to see her upset, crying.  She knows this would upset, worry him and in turn that might have a bad effect on what health he does have.

But, she has no idea how she is going to get through this...

On the material side of things, she is concerned that the house that she grew up in, which only has 2 yrs of payments left, might be snatched out from underneath her.  Selling the house is not an option for her yet.  Her whole world is about to change radically, that house may be one of the only anchors left for her.

Her dad thought he had life-insurance.  Turns out that's not so.  She might have enough to bury him with the policy through the funeral home.

I feel helpless.  I cannot think of a thing that would help.  I want to, but I have no idea what to do.

If anyone has any suggestions, about any aspect of this situation, please let me know.  I appreciate it.

1 comment:

  1. Debra, The only real suggestion that I have to offer is that your friend needs to see a good attorney..........estate attorney. He will offer the very best financial advise that can be benificial to her future.   Anne

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