Chronic Illnesses affect the WHOLE family

I know that me being chronically ill has really taken a toll on my whole family.
It has affected:
Mum: She gave up her whole life to look after me. She used to work and she loved her job. She gave it up when I was born but planned to go back to it when I was older. Then I got sick and that hope was dashed. Mum used to spend a lot of time with friends, she still spends time with them but not as much as her number 1 priority is looking after me. I was meant to look after Mum as she got older- now it is the other way around. Mum misses out on things that she wants to pay for my medical expenses. She gave up her life for me, I appreciate that but I hate the fact that she has had to do that.
Nan: Mum lives with me, nan and pop to look after them as well. But a lot of the time Nan is the one to look after Pop as Mum is to busy with me to look after them. Nan misses out on time with Mum because she spends her days driving me around to appointments.
Pop: Mum sometimes is unable to do things for Pop because she is looking after me. Pop also misses out on spending time with Mum because Mum is so busy with me.
My Brothers: Mum and I cannot travel to see my brothers because a lot of the time I cannot travel to see them.
Nieces and Nephews: I can no longer pick up my nieces and nephews, I can no longer sit on the floor and play with them. They deserve a healthy aunty who can do everything with them but they missed out on that too.
Uncles and Aunts: My uncle and aunts don't get to spend time with me, or take me out, or have me over night because I need round the clock care.

Chronic illness doesn't just affect the person who has the chronic illness it affects the whole family.

Hugs,
Rachael
xox