I am Lao Wang, and I am 70 years old. Not long ago, physical discomfort set me on a painful journey. After receiving a medical examination at the county hospital, I looked at my medical check-up list and felt indescribable. When I returned home and looked at my old father lying on the bed, tears couldn't help but flow.
I grew up in the countryside and returned to my hometown after working hard in Guangzhou for a few years. As the eldest son in the family, the responsibility of filial piety prevented me from leaving my family. I thought that I would be able to do it easier after the age of 60, but at the age of 70, I was full of helplessness about the future.
Lately, my biggest concern has been my father, who has been paralyzed in front of his bed for many years. As the saying goes: "Parents are here, and there is still an afterlife in life; My parents are gone, and there is only a way back in life. This sentence resonated deeply in my heart. I used to feel comforted to have an elderly person around, but as time went on, I began to realize that both my father and I were struggling.
When I was younger, my father was physically strong and liked to go out and play. However, at the age of 82 to 83, his body declined significantly, he only liked to sit at home, his memory was lost, and the only thing he insisted on was smoking and drinking every day. Four years ago, a stroke made him say goodbye to these two habits, but it also made him stay in bed forever, which became the biggest burden in my life.
The past 4 years have been busy and hard. At the beginning of each day, I have to pick up my father and put him on the bed, and sort out his simple daily life. While working in the fields, I often interrupted my work and went home to check if my father needed help. I was also overwhelmed by his violent temper, and when he lost his temper, he would scold or hit people, and even when he was eating, he could smash the bowl with his hand.
In addition to his father, his wife's health also began to deteriorate. She had a headache and rheumatism tormented her. I had to take care of my father and accompany my wife to the hospital. And my two sons, although they are nearly 50 years old, are unwilling to take on the responsibility of providing for the elderly, and often complain about me. I felt helpless, and I often cried silently.
The younger sister married far away, and although the younger brother was nearby, he had no filial son in front of the bed for a long time. I don't expect my children to be nice to me, I just want them to stop blocking us. As time passed, I no longer counted on their help.
In the last six months, my physical condition has become worse and worse. The doctor's physical examination report let me know that high blood lipids, high blood pressure, stomach ulcers, and heart problems are all bothering me. The doctor's advice was to rest more and work less, but I knew it wasn't easy for me. Faced with the prescription and nutritional products prescribed by the doctor, I only accepted some ** in order to save money.
Back home, I sat silently by the brazier, meditating. Looking back on my life, I find that apart from my childhood, there are few moments that make me happy. Looking at the medical checklist, I tried to comfort myself that maybe the doctor was not accurate, or maybe I would go to the village doctor tomorrow to confirm. However, what worries me even more is my father in bed, what will happen to him if I pass away first.
However, I should not be too pessimistic. I longed for my body to be able to spend quality time with my father. Life may be full of setbacks, but I can only laugh at the helplessness of life, continue to work hard, no matter what the road ahead, I only hope that my father and I can be safe and happy.
February** Dynamic Incentive Program