Aarp i heart caregivers: philip from tennessee

1467777600 TN Philip FROM TENNESSEE In the early '80s, my wife and I we blessed with a girl and boy. Lauren has grown up to become a wonderful daughter and Mom and Registered Pediatric

Nurse, with a great family of her own. Her younger brother, Andrew, was born with a genetic birth defect caused by a mutation on the 23rd chromosome. As a result of being born with special

needs, everyone in the family helped to care for Andrew. However, time took its toll and his Mom passed away with cancer so most of his care came from my daughter and myself. In early 2004,

I remarried and started a new blended family. However, cancer struck again and took the life of my second wife. So, now I find myself caring, without question, for Andrew. He is 30 now and I

am 64. It is difficult, depending on we're one lives, to find activities for a special needs adult, especially since I have developed several health problems that have greatly reduced

my ability to help Andrew like I used to. But, life does go on, and by the grace of God, I have been able to stay with him and allow him remain in the house with me. I wouldn't trade

anything for the life I have and continue to live, especially with Andrew and Lauren (daughter) and her family (with two grandchildren). Most days are a struggle, but in the words of the

Apostle Paul, "I can do all things in Him (Jesus) who gives me strength."