Living a Single Life - Random Realization

Imagine this scenario: you are 60 years old, living a healthy lifestyle but have no husband/wife, no children, only younger siblings who have their own families. You can do whatever you want to do because you don't have duties, no obligations or responsibilities. You are living with your sister, who, among your siblings, is unmarried or single as well.

Would you live like this?

I already posted about my Uncle L, my mother's older brother. He was once married but his wife died several years ago, and that's the reason why he's living with my Aunt B, my mother's older sister, who's single as well.

Last two weeks, my mom and her siblings accompanied Uncle L to the hospital for laboratory tests because the doctor's first diagnosis is stroke and that my Uncle L needs further tests to make sure if his brain's okay or not since he's been forgetting a lot of things recently.

When the lab results were out, especially the MRI result, I immediately searched for some terms. I know I shouldn't rely on the results from the internet but I wanted to know the meaning of the medical terms used in the result.

His MRI shows that he has brain tumor and that it is swelling. I don't really know about it much because that's based from what I've researched. We scheduled another appointment to the doctor but unfortunately, the doctor and the hospital haven't been responding for 2 days already.

My Aunt J and Aunt E look after my Uncle L. Then one night, they called my mom to inform us that Uncle L's condition is not that good. He cannot swallow the food already, he can't even sit properly, he can't even step his foot to walk. He keeps on saying that his whole body hurts and that he's tired and hungry. When he sits, he always lean on the right side until he almost fell down the chair. Worried, they suggested that they should let my Uncle L be confined in the hospital.

That night, my mom couldn't sleep, thinking of what to do - if they should take action already or if they should wait until early in the morning.

Fast forward, my Uncle L was admitted in the hospital. It turned out that my researched terms are correct, he has a cyst in his brain and that his brain is swelling because of it. We were informed as well that his oxygen level is low. Thank God we were able to admit him in the hospital that morning.

Since we're still in the middle of a pandemic, visitors are not allowed in the hospital. Only 1 is allowed and when you enter the vicinity with negative swab result, you are not allowed to go outside. Meaning, you'll stay there with the patient.

My mom and her other siblings all have their own responsibilities, they have their own families to look after. Now, they're all stressed out because they don't know who will be the one to look after my Uncle L inside the hospital, someone who will stay there all throughout until he recovers and go home.

The thought made me sad. Uncle L was there in the hospital for a day already, with no one beside him. He must have seen some patients with their guardians, and he must've thought why no one's beside him, to take care of him. Tears run down my face. He might have been wondering if he was abandoned by his siblings, his family, already.

I helped my mom and my other aunts to come up with a plan, of who will take care of Uncle L while he's recovering. Suddenly, the hospital called and said that they're moving Uncle L to the ICU. Panicking, my Aunt J hurriedly go to the hospital to know what's happening. Luckily, nothing bad happened. He was being moved to the ICU to carefully monitor his brain and his blood pressure, and that means that no one is allowed to visit him. The doctor said that he will contact us to deliver updates regarding Uncle L.

With what's happening to Uncle L, it made me think of what would happen if I'll live single for the rest of my life.

Who will take care of me if I got sick when I get old? Who will stay by my side? Seeing how worried, stressed, and sleep deprived my mom and her siblings are, it's difficult.

Have you ever thought of this before?

If ever you have time, kindly pray for my Uncle L's recovery. We are still waiting for the swelling to be gone for them to operate and test the cyst, whether it is benign or not. Hoping for good news.

Thanks a lot. It means a lot to me.

March 7, 2022

Thanking ate @yhanne for the sponsorship ❤️❤️❤️