My father joined the military out of high school and served overseas including in Korea and came home to marry the women he loved. He spent the next 30+ years working full time in a powdered metal plant to help feed and cloth his 3 children. In the 80's when families could no longer survive on one income my mother Ruth took a job at the same plant and worked there until cancer and COPD left her disabled in 2012.
Robert retired in 2002 but didn't get to enjoy retirement for very long, he went in for routine surgery in 2004 and thanks to a terrible doctor was left fighting for his life. During surgery he got a blood clot which worked it's way into his head, the doctor did nothing but dump him in the ICU and said he should be fine. Thank god the night shift doctor found him and immediately sent him for tests and found the clot but the damage had been done. Robert suffered a massive stroke that left him in a coma and when he did wake up no longer had the use of his right side (leg or arm) which left him months of rehab and training to use his left hand. He had lost his thumb and ring finger (one in military one at factory) on his left hand so basically he has 3 fingers. The hard thing was the mental loss, he often struggles for the words he wants to use or express himself.
With both parents now disabled and long hospital stays common place I had not choice but to leave my job and move in to be their home caregiver, it was either that or put them in a care facility which not only couldn't we afford but they wouldn't be together and that would kill them faster than a stroke or cancer ever could. After working hard and "playing by the rules" for all these years we have tried to get them help but are turned away at almost every turn, thanks to the Dept. of Aging we have received some help including putting in a disabled bathroom. Ruth's recent hospital stay has left us with massive bills and because getting behind on the mortgage and property taxes on verge of losing their home which could make Robert just another homeless veteran in the country he fought for. Help a Vet