Hi,
The issue you brought up here is one that hits home for me. When I was nine years old, (there were five kids all within 5 years of each other, oldest 11 youngest 6) my Mom got pregnant with child number 6. During her pregnancy she kept having dizzy spells and she would fall alot. At first they thought she had a brain tumor and my Dad gathered us kids up and prepared us for the worst. By the time my brother was born, they had figured out that she had a very progressive form of MS. Her condition deteriorated rapidly after the birth, the two of us older girls pretty much raised the baby. After about three years, she was in a wheelchair or in bed at all times, and my Dad left us. It was so hard because she could not work and she was afraid to get help for us because she thought the state would take us children away. We took care of my Mom and the baby and wondered where our Dad went. Growing up like that was very hard and alot of times I hated him, but my Mom was the most patient and caring woman who has ever lived and she tried to teach me to forgive him. She said that she forgave him and that it would be hard for anyone to stay, especially if they weren't very strong. Sometimes I would get sort of mad at her for not getting angry but she said it only hurts us to harbor hate. Growing up like that you would think I would really be against Mr. P, but I guess having a Mom like her made me sort of see it from both sides. Either way I know how hard it is and I will say a prayer for Mrs. and Mr. P. and hope that they find the right path.
Kristin