Help PapaDewey Recover From Abuse

Where does a son begin, in recounting the story of his dearly loved father, and the hells of abuse he has suffered?

I suppose we start from the beginning, but the short version.

Dad left all his family behind in 1971 and traveled across Canada to start a new life. He spoke little English, but that didn't stop him. He found work, made friends, and met my mom. Together, they had me - a beautiful boy, he always says. Over the years, we had our share of challenges, but papa was always there for me, through thick and thin.

Now, it is my turn to be there for papa.

In 2020, at 71 years old himself, his domestic partner of 35 years was admitted to a long term care facility for dementia. It is a horrible, awful disease and robs people of their memories - the things that make life worth living. It also triggers a series of legal affairs, with big words like "power of attorney", something his wife's daughter was made responsible for. No big deal, we thought.

We were wrong. So very wrong.

In April of 2020, the daughter figured out dad jointly owned property with his partner. It's logical after 35 years. But she refused to accept this, and ever since, has mounted a targeted campaign of harassment, abuse, and outright hostility against my father. Of all the terrible things done, the worst is on going to this day: denial of visitation between my father and his partner. Understandably, it has hurt my father (and me) on such a deep level it is beyond mere words.

It wasn't enough to rip his heart out. The daughter sued for, and won, the property, forcing my father onto the streets. I was extremely lucky to find him low-income housing in the city at the last possible moment. Being on a fixed income as a retiree made options limited. I was scared, and still am.

It wasn't enough to take his home. The daughter sued for, and won, court costs totaling $93,319. Yes, ninety three thousand. With fixed income, it does not take much to understand dad cannot afford this at all.

It wasn't enough to finish off dad's assets. The daughter, through three years, continuously abused my father through insults, yelling, screaming, and lately, tearing up family photos to remove dad from the picture. When we pointed out these issues, the photos, hundreds of them, all were stolen out of his partner's room.

A room where she is currently laying in her own waste, with gangrene in her legs, and no one giving a damn.

The pain papa has suffered is immeasurable beyond words. It defies logic, conscience, and the basics of morality. Three years and no options. Three years of battling the daughter for the simple, most basic desire - to see his partner, and be left alone. The toll on his mental health, understandably, has been gargantuan - three times I have had to commit my own dad, my family, to a facility to save him. Even as I write this, it is the fourth time. I do what I can, of course, but he has felt he has lost everything and is completely alone.

I know times are hard for everyone worldwide, and I am not one to easily ask for help. I am hoping a few good souls out there will hear my family's plea and share the news widely. Whether it's a spare dollar to help him recover, or a reshare to spread the word, I thank you from the depths of my soul, and so does my papa.

Je t'aime, papa.