"She wouldn't want sympathy and she certainly wouldn't want to be pitied" none of us want either aswell But you are right. My neighbour, who is a right callous cow at the best of times told someone I know I got LOADS of help. I have no family close, my husband was in the country for 4 months a year at the time and SS were giving me 1.5hrs a week in direct payments, nothing else. They have since upped it to 3 hrs a week and feel I should be grateful. Luckily dh works much more flexible hours now but I have 2 children plus my daughter who is severely disabled. 3 hours is pityful really but because we 'cope' they ignore any plight that we need more hours/help. We dont even qualify for playscheme as others are more needy. Yes they do deserve it but most of them have family close etc and it does make so much more difference. We get on with our lot though.
If the last two articles are to be believed, Heather reminded me a bit of my mum. She was carer for my sister who was ill (post double transplant/CF) and when she died my mum still put her prescription into the chemist, oh and fetched it. Then washed all her clothes, ironed them. I know what the Mum did is past some peoples comprhension, even mine, but when you are carer your whole life is often in auto pilot. You main aim for being here to look after someone. If they die, your whole world and life dies with them because you dont actually have anything because it so consuming. I know she had other children, as did my mum, but sometimes caring is al thats important. Plus you ignore your own mental health for years. I feel sorry for Heather that she didnt have enough support. I feel so sad for her. I feel distraught for their poor family too its all so tragic