My heart is breaking again. Several times a year, every year, I see stories such as this one – an aging or ill parent caring for a disabled child, has become isolated and hopeless that anyone will ever be able to properly take over the care of their child, and ultimately sees only one way out: to leave this world together with their child.
The latest story ended in even more tragedy than most of these stories. A mother facing cancer tried to end her life and her daughter’s life, but the mother did not die. The mother was found before death and saved, only to face criminal charges in the death of her daughter. Convicted and facing prison two years later, she was able to try again and this time succeeded in ending her life, as well.
You can read the story in the Chicago Tribune here.
Although it is easy for parents to tell themselves that they would never do such a thing, far too many parents face their child’s adulthood without adequate support and planning and cause untold stress for themselves during their own lifetime, as well as needless stress and chaos for their family after they die. And yes, a few become so overwhelmed that they make what they have convinced themselves is the best choice for their child.
Please don’t wait to learn about what you can do to prepare for the time when you are no longer able to personally care for you child. There are choices. There are safe choices. There are happy choices. But the longer you wait, the fewer choices you have.
Start here –Four Keys to Special Needs Planning – or simply call us for an appointment to sit and talk about your situation and how to put together a plan that will make sure your child is safe and secure until the natural end of their life.
Parker Counsel special needs law firm is available by phone: 833-RED-BOOT (833-733-2668), by email: legal@parkercounsel.com, or schedule a short informational call with Calendly.