| Some of the things that will have a bearing on the | | | | effort at bonding since or anything more than the |
| situation with grown step-children will depend on how | | | | occasional phone call from his daughter. |
| long the couple has been together before the injury; | | | | There has never once been a "We appreciate all |
| what the relationship with the step-children was like | | | | you've done for our father. Is there anything we can |
| before the injury and probably more important, what | | | | do to help?" But this is not a surprise. How could I |
| the relationship was like between the survivor and his | | | | expect that they would treat me any other way when |
| her children. | | | | they treat their father so badly? |
| In our situation, we knew each other about three and a | | | | In circumstances such as this, where does that leave |
| half years before my partner sustained his brain injury. | | | | the partner/caregiver? The answer is - in a very |
| At the time of his accident he wasn't speaking to his | | | | vulnerable position; particularly when the stepchild has |
| oldest son and still doesn't; there was little interaction | | | | the Power of Attorney but the spousal/caregiver is |
| between him and his second son, and he saw and | | | | doing the caring for their brain injured partner. For |
| talked to his daughter only occasionally. This had been | | | | anyone who finds themselves in this position, I would |
| the case both before his accident as well as being the | | | | recommend talking to a lawyer in order to get advice |
| situation before I met him. | | | | on how best to protect themselves and their own |
| After his accident, there had been no offers of help of | | | | families. Your partner very likely is not well enough to |
| any kind from any of his children and admittedly I was | | | | protect you if he/she has not already taken steps to |
| upset with the poor treatment of their father. But then | | | | do so before their injury. |
| when he was doing up his Will, they suddenly wanted | | | | This is not an uncommon scenario with grown |
| to bond with him; they wanted to take him for dinner - | | | | step-children but is made especially more difficult when |
| a dinner I was excluded from. He has since done up | | | | brain injury is involved. It is a time for the spousal |
| his Will and has given his daughter his Power of | | | | caregiver to be proactive in order to safeguard their |
| Attorney. Needless to say, there has been no more | | | | home and their own children. |