I am an only child and I always knew that caring for my dad would be my responsibility

Hi my name is Emma, I am an only child and I always knew that caring for my dad would be my responsibility when he deteriorated. He was a Vietnam vet and had kidney problems as a result of his exposure to Napalm. He got sick very quickly and to be serious about giving advice to others I would have to say that a number of mantras got me through this time 1. Knowledge is power 2. Don’t believe everything you get told 3. Do your homework and 4. Go with your gut. I became good at knowing how to ask the right questions to get support, and within this I learnt how to keep the respect and basic human rights of my dad. When it came to services because I knew my stuff I was able to have the power to say; don’t tell me what to do with my dad I know he has rights! And they did listen to me.