Time for a public post about this matter

We are bringing Josh's dad to live with us next week after the fall he had on July 4th. He's been in the hospital followed by a rehab facility since then and will be released next week. Josh's mom left yesterday to go live with his sister in Knoxville; she has dementia and cannot be left alone. Josh got home yesterday after taking care of his folks for two weeks, largely by himself (although my mom came to sit with his mom on two afternoons, his aunt came for a few days and was a huge help, and Sarah got there this week and helped for a few days).

So much thanks to executrix for expert advice on navigating elder care issues, misbegotten and spikedluv for keeping us fed, and amejisuto for raising our spirits. And thanks to all of your for support; your comments and messages have been so encouraging.

This is going to be an adjustment, and a challenging one, but I'm optimistic, and so is Josh.

My aunt's prognosis is very poor; that side of the family doesn't believe in preventative medicine. They don't go for annual checkups or get mammograms or colonoscopies and stuff like that, so the cancer was detected very late. She's also caught up in the usual shenanigans of the medical system not moving quickly/answering calls/etc., and she's not advocating for herself. I think my mom finally convinced her to do so, but given the severity and worsening of her symptoms, I think a positive outcome for her is unlikely. :( She's the least wackadoodle of my aunts on that side LOL, and I'm really sorry she's going through this. I feel really terrible for her son, my cousin Scott. His wife died suddenly of a blood clot about three years ago while he was on a business trip; his dad had a stroke about a month ago, and now his mom has ovarian cancer. :(

In any event, I'm grateful to you all for your friendship, and I'm certain I'll be leaning on you as the situation unfolds.