A Different Kind Of Loss

When we use the term "loss" here, we typically mean death. But right now I'm dealing with a family member who is in a physically and mentally debilitating condition that he may never recover from. He probably won't die, but there may be a loss nonetheless in that he may never be the same again.

How do you deal with that possibility? I'm walking through a foreign land right now and I don't speak the language. 

I really have no advice to offer.  It sounds like a tough situation and in your shoes, I'd probably feel like I was mourning that person for a really long time.  Because it's true, the person you knew is no longer there.  I'd grieve that relationship.  Maybe talking to a professional about it is the way to go. 

We would often offer our comfort and try to say things that we would think might help. However, in the end, the person who experienced the loss will have the toughest job accepting what happened. I think your presence would be more than enough, even with the absence of words.

Getting help from other family members can do you good. If the situation is too much for you to handle, don't hesitate to ask for help from professionals. It's vital that caretakers also have that social support because you're just human too.