Mark

A very true story

I was in long term physical rehab when this young 20 year old guy came by and introduced himself to me as moving next door. I said great and shook his hand and something told me I was going to be his big brother. We ate next to each other in the mess hall, I made sure he got set down safe, and got up the same way.

He got worse over time, and he finally told he had MS. When I got him up to his apartment, he was soaked. I managed to strip his shoes, pants and whatnot off, wipe him down, and get him into fresh new Depends. That developed into a routine when I got him on those Depends with tabs; he’d call me, in all good humor, and say “Wanna watch NASCAR?”, which meant he wanted me to come over to help him.

Same at night, or whenever. I wanna tell you, he was only a couple years younger than me, but because of his need, or maybe, because he is like the brother I never had, well, outside the military.

One night, I went through getting him cleaned up and all, but I told him “get ready for a surprise” and diapered him up in the stuff I wear, and plastic pants. “Gee, buddy, this stuff feels great!”

“I know, I’m wearin the same stuff. Maybe now you won’t wet the bed as much, or during the day.”

“If you need anything, just yell quietly, I in a bag right next to you.”

I slept with him like a Doberman on guard for a few weeks, then brought him together with other guys with similar needs.

He is doing okay, and has a group of buddies that look after each other.