“I just need to stay well enough to see my grandchildren through to independence.”

“I just need to stay well enough to see my grandchildren through to independence.”

Patrick is a widower in his late fifties raising his 3 grandchildren after his only daughter overdosed from heroin two years ago. He has had to give up his full time job in order to care for the children although he tries to get some work while the children are at school. There is very little money after paying for day-to-day living expenses and he finds it almost impossible to cope with educational costs such as uniforms. Priding himself on having worked hard all his life and paying his own way, he has spent all of his savings and has been forced to take a loan from Centrelink. There is no money for anything like outings, new toys or extra curriculum activities like swimming or music. Patrick recently attended Mirabel’s family camp at Somers where he met other grandfathers raising their grandchildren. He said that it helps to know he is not alone and he looks forward to catching up with his peers at the monthly support group meetings. Mirabel is assisting Patrick with the cost of the children’s schooling and the children regularly attend Mirabel’s Recreation Program which provides experiences that would otherwise not be possible. Patrick’s main concern is that he continues to stay well enough to see each of the children through to independence.