What the hell do I say to him? feel so helpless

[MrsDanversGlidesAgain]

DB in Oz has just emailed to say that SIL has a form of Parkinsons, Progressive Supranuclear Palsy. No real treatment, she'll progressively lose mobility and motor skills, her life expectancy is 5-7 years.

They have a lovely life, just retired in a beautiful part of the country, and are so happy together after more than 20 years (second marriage for both of them). He loves her children and was looking forward to retiring and doing stuff together - now this. Faced with being a carer, watching a loved partner deteriorate and knowing that he's going to have an old age without her. He was a rock when DM was diagnosed terminal and I want to be a rock for him and I don't know how.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

That's sad to hear, tell him you're really sorry to hear about it, that he can phone you anytime to offload and you will always be there for them both on the end of the phone or on FaceTime if not in person.

I'm going to tell him to look for a support group for carers, as well. He's going to want to rant and scream and cry about it all.