
Four years ago, my now-16-year-old daughter was in a car accident with a friend’s mom. She broke her neck and is now paralyzed from the waist down and in her left arm—she can only use her right hand. Watching her live like this destroys me every day. I love her more than anything, and every time she cries about her situation it feels like my heart is being ripped out of my chest.
Every day I help her with everything—getting around, putting her to bed, taking her out, sometimes even showering her, dressing her, doing her hair and makeup. I never complain. She’s my baby, and I’ll take care of her as long as I physically can.
What terrifies me is what happens if I’m gone. I have serious health issues, heart problems run in my family, and the men in my family don’t live long. My dad and grandpa died in their 50s, my brother died of cancer at 56, and I’m 48 now. I’m scared I might be next—and I’m terrified of leaving her behind.









