My uncle was diagnosed with MND lmtwo weeks ago. This comes after a misdiagnosis of something a lot less severe and Mum has just been told that the doctors say there's nothing else they can do and the end is imminent.
Bit of background here, Mum was one of 8, they're all very close in the seeing each other weekly, daily phone calls, way. The entire fairly were rocked in 2019 when my youngest uncle had a major heart attack and died in his early 60s Totally unexpected and everyone was devastated.
We then lost my beloved Dad in 2020, but he'd been ill for a long time, so we had a bit more time to process it.
I'm honestly worried about how Mum, (and the extended family) are going to cope with my uncle passing. He went downhill very fast and was always a very active man, the family rock, hugely practical and the glue who held everyone together. The misdiagnosis gave them a sense of hope that has been shattered and his decline has been rapid. Went in to hospital for tests and a OT review, now he won't be coming out.
I'm getting multiple messages a day from Mum raging against the unfairness of it, my aunts are in tears, my remaining uncle (the eldest) is in a state of shock that both his younger brothers will have gone before him. My cousin (uncle's daughter) is basically catatonic, refusing to talk to anyone and in a severe state of depression.
I honestly don't know what to do or say. I feel so useless, so all I can do is listen and provide practical things like shopping or making tea.
Is there anything I can practically do to help any of them at this point?
I have some MH issues and tend towards practicality, then do my grieving privately, but don't want them to think I don't cafe.