Salaam - Caring for my brother with cerebral palsy is the hardest test I’ve faced
Assalamu alaikum. I live alone with my brother who has cerebral palsy, and it’s just been the two of us for a long time. Our mother went to work abroad and remarried a few years ago. When I was younger I didn’t think much of it, but now I see she was always kind of distant toward him. I suspect his condition played a part. She calls sometimes but doesn’t give any financial support. To be honest, even if she did try now I don’t know if I’d accept it - I’ve grown used to doing this myself, and I don’t want help from someone who treats my brother like he’s not worth caring for. Taking care of him is my normal life. I don’t complain much and I rarely ask for help. I just do what’s needed. But today hit me harder than usual. Lately he’s been telling me kids at school tease him. That stings more than anything. It upsets me that people decide who to befriend based on how someone looks or talks, like it’s his fault he was born like this. Today was his birthday. I tried to make it special. I set up a small table at home for him and the few friends who came. Only three showed up - one older boy who might be on the autism spectrum, and two classmates. Still, they came, and that meant a lot. I gave him my old PlayStation 3 as a present. I thought it would cheer him up, but I forgot you need discs to play many games on it. When I realized I felt so silly. He wasn’t really upset though; I don’t even think he fully understood what the console was. Somehow I felt worse than he did. They spent the day playing games on their phones. All the other kids had phones. He doesn’t. I could tell he noticed. When it was time to go, they asked if they could keep playing later. Everyone said yes except my brother - he said he didn’t want to ask because he knows I work all day and need my phone. After they left I asked him and he said, “Why didn’t you buy me a phone? It’s not as big as the console.” He thought the console was a gift that should replace a phone. That really broke me. I can’t afford a phone. I’m barely covering basics, and his medication is already so expensive. After that, dark thoughts crept in. It feels like no matter how hard I work, I’m not getting anywhere for myself or my brother. Tomorrow I go back to work after a week off, and honestly I want to quit. I have no motivation - it feels like I’m working for nothing. I’m exhausted. I don’t really know what to do. I need someone to talk to before I feel like I might lose it. JazakAllah khair for reading.