I Became a Burden to My Father after I Lost the Ability to Walk – Story of the Day

I Became a Burden to My Father after I Lost the Ability to Walk – Story of the Day
I was paralyzed and trapped in a wheelchair in an accident, and my father refused to be burdened with me. But then he gets taught an important lesson.

I was 19 when I was run over by a car on my way to work. For me, it was the end of the world: a screech of tires, darkness, and pain. And when I woke up, I heard the voices say I’d never walk again.

I kept asking for my father, but he only showed up three days later, looking the worse for the wear and I knew he’d been on a bender while I’d lain there fighting for my life.

She was injured in a horrible accident | Source: Shutterstock.com

She was injured in a horrible accident | Source: Shutterstock.com

My mother died when I was 12, a victim of breast cancer. I remember her as a sweet, weary woman, always cringing from my father’s cruel words, working to keep food on the table while he drank his paycheck away.

As soon as I turned 14, he ordered me to find a part-time job to help with the bills, and when I was 16, I dropped out of school and started working full time to support myself — and him.

But when my father finally arrived at the hospital to visit me, there was neither compassion nor gratitude in his eyes. The doctor explained that although my spine was not severed there had been severe bruising and compression.

I might — by a long shot — recover my ability to walk, but most likely, I would be in a wheelchair for the rest of my life. And that was when my father walked away. He said to the doctor, “She’s over 18, isn’t she? She’s an adult, right? So she’s not my responsibility anymore. You take her.”

My father was an alcoholic | Source: Unsplash

My father was an alcoholic | Source: Unsplash

I remember my doctor’s horrified expression and my father’s gaze sweeping over my limp legs. “Useless! Useless like your mother!”

Those were the last words I’d hear from him for the next six years. A little while later I was transferred to a recovery center where I was lucky enough to be assigned to a therapist named Carol Hanson.

Family is built on love, not a biological bond, or shared DNA.

She was an older, motherly woman who immediately took me under her wing. Carol was as loving as she was demanding, and she was very demanding. Over the next year, she pushed me towards a recovery I’d never dreamed possible.

The day I stood on my own two feet and took my first step, I cried like a baby, and so did Carol. It was only the beginning, and the next few months I worked even harder, but finally was pronounced healthy.

I woke to discover I was paralyzed | Source: Unsplash

I woke to discover I was paralyzed | Source: Unsplash

It was a bittersweet moment for me. I was healed from my injury and I was walking again, but I was terrified. I had nowhere to go, no family. I was all alone in the world.

Carol walked in and found me crying. She sat beside me on the bed and put her arms around me. “Jenny,” she said to me, “it’s all right to be scared. You’re starting your life again.”

“I have no one, and nowhere to go,” I whispered, remembering other patients leaving surrounded by loving family, “I’m alone.”

“No you’re not,” Carol said firmly, “I’ve been meaning to talk to you about that. Would you like to move in with me? Just until you get your life together again…”

I was stuck in a wheelchair | Source: Unsplash

I was stuck in a wheelchair | Source: Unsplash

So I did, and it was lovely. Carol and I got on beautifully, and she gave me my own room, a pretty room, the prettiest I’d ever seen. “It was my daughter’s,” Carol explained with tears in her eyes. “I lost her like you lost your mother.”

I started googling for jobs the next day on Carol’s computer, but when I came down to breakfast there were some informative flyers on the table from the local high school announcing night classes for adults wanting to complete their secondary education.

“I think,” said Carol firmly, “that you need to go back to school so you can go back to college.”

My mouth dropped open. “College? I can’t afford college!” I gasped. “Carol, I don’t have a cent to my name and no way to support myself if I don’t get a job, and quickly.”

The physiotherapist helped me heal | Source: Pexels

The physiotherapist helped me heal | Source: Pexels

Carol shook her head: “No, Jenny, you can’t afford NOT to go to college. Listen, I will lend you the money, and when you graduate, you pay me back — just like a student loan with a bank.”

Anyway, she talked me into it, and I quickly completed the high school certification I needed and applied to the local college. I’ll admit Carol’s example inspired me to become a nurse, and four years later, I graduated summa cum laude.

I started working at a local hospital and ended up specializing in neo-natal care. One day, a TV crew came in to do a news story on a set of identical triplets and ended up interviewing me.

For a while, I was a bit of a celebrity, but the attention brought me an unwanted visitor. The doorbell rang and when I opened it, I was stunned to see my father standing there.

I became a nurse | Source: Pixabay

I became a nurse | Source: Pixabay

He looked terrible, like a bum, and he reeked of alcohol and sweat. “Jenny, my sweet baby girl!” he cried, reaching out his hands. “I’ve finally found you again.”

“Found me again?” I asked sharply, “You abandoned me in the hospital because I was useless, remember, like my mother?”

He squeezed out a few tears. “Oh my baby,” he sobbed. “Forgive me, I was frightened and in shock… You won’t turn your dad away now, would you? I haven’t been well…”

“You look fine to me,” I told him coldly, but my trained eye had already noted the yellow tinge to his skin and eyes. He had some kind of liver disorder, probably due to his drinking.

An unexpected visitor | Source: Pixabay

An unexpected visitor | Source: Pixabay

He shuffled forward. “I’m sick, Jenny, daddy really needs you…And…” he licked his lips thirstily. “And I’m broke, baby, no money for food…You’re not going to let your daddy go hungry, are you?”

“Like you left me to my fate? Helpless in a wheelchair? Guess what ‘DADDY,’ I am. Get out.” I slammed the door in his face and walked back into the lounge.

Carol looked up at me and smiled. “Who was that, Jenny?”

“Oh, just some man selling something!” I went to the sofa, sat down beside Carol, and hugged her fiercely. Carol hugged me back.

Carol adopted me | Source: Pexels

Carol adopted me | Source: Pexels

“Jenny,” she said, “there’s something I’ve been meaning to talk to you about. Would you allow me to adopt you? Become your mother? Because in my heart you already are my daughter.”

I started crying and I just couldn’t stop. I had been cursed with a terrible childhood, and now as an adult, I had been lucky enough to find a loving home and a parent who cherished me.

What can we learn from this story?

1. Family is built on love, not a biological bond, or shared DNA.

2. What you give is what you get, as Jenny’s father discovered.

Share this story with your friends. It might brighten their day and inspire them.

If you enjoyed this story, you might like this one about a beautiful socialite who humiliates an old friend and ends up regretting it.

This account is inspired by our reader’s story but written by a professional writer. All names have been changed to protect identities and ensure privacy. Share your story with us, maybe it will change someone’s life.

Boy Sees His Birthday Deliveries Planned for the Next 15 Years and Cries When He Finds Out Why – Story of the Day

Teenage boy Charlie struggles to understand why his peers receive expensive presents while he is left listening to his mother’s excuses. He discovers that his mother has prepared 15 gifts for his future birthdays. But after learning the reason behind it, he finally realizes what he truly wants.

Charlie, a 15-year-old with a backpack slung lazily over one shoulder, trudged out of school alongside his classmate Mark.

The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the parking lot, where students chattered and cars honked in a chaotic symphony.

“Did you hear? We’ve got another test on Friday,” Mark said, breaking the silence.

Charlie groaned, his shoulders slumping.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“Oh no, not again! Is this the fourth test this week? School is exhausting…”

Mark smirked. “Don’t be so dramatic. It’s just studying. You always stress out before tests, but in the end, it all works out fine.”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever,” Charlie muttered, his eyes scanning the parking lot. His expression darkened as he frowned.

“My mom’s late again! How much longer do I have to wait?”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“Maybe something came up. Don’t be mad at her—she’s picking you up. You should be grateful,” Mark said with a shrug.

Charlie shot him a sideways glare.

“Yeah? I don’t see your mom’s car either. Are you super grateful that she’s late too?”

Mark chuckled softly and shook his head. “She won’t be picking me up anymore. My parents bought me a car for my birthday.”

Charlie stopped in his tracks, his jaw dropping.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“What!? A car!? I’d be grateful too if someone got me a car!” he snapped, his voice laced with jealousy.

Mark shrugged again, calm as ever. “You should be grateful no matter what. She’s your mom. Anyway, see you tomorrow.”

“Yeah… bye,” Charlie mumbled, watching Mark stroll off toward the student lot.

As he stood there, stewing in frustration, a car horn blared from across the lot. Charlie spun around and saw his mom’s familiar car pulling up.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

With a sigh, he slung his backpack higher on his shoulder and jogged toward it, muttering under his breath. He opened the car door and slid into the passenger seat, his face already setting in a frown.

Alice, his mom, glanced over at him, her hands gripping the steering wheel.

“Sorry, sweetheart, I’m late again. I had to finish up a few things,” she said apologetically.

“You’re always late these days…” Charlie muttered, avoiding her gaze as he slumped further into his seat.

Alice sighed, keeping her voice calm.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“I said I’m sorry. Now, tell me—how was your day?”

“Not great,” he replied shortly, his eyes fixed on the cars passing outside.

She glanced at him again, concern flickering across her face. “What happened?”

“Mark’s parents bought him a car for his birthday,” Charlie said flatly.

Alice smiled slightly, trying to lighten the mood.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“That’s wonderful! Did he give you a ride?”

Charlie turned to her, his expression incredulous.

“No. Mom, my birthday’s coming up soon. Can you get me a car?”

Alice’s hands tightened briefly on the wheel before she answered. “Sweetheart, I already have your gift planned. Maybe I can get you a car in a few years…”

“A few years!?” Charlie’s voice rose with frustration.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“So I have to wait while all my classmates drive around, and I look like an idiot?”

Alice exhaled and tried to keep her tone gentle as she said, “I know it’s hard, but I just can’t afford a gift like that right now.”

Charlie crossed his arms, his voice sharp. “Then return whatever gift you got and buy me a car!”

“I can’t do that, Charlie. I’m sorry,” she said firmly, though her voice was tinged with sadness.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

He turned away, pressing his forehead against the window.

The hum of the engine filled the silence as Alice drove, glancing occasionally at her son, his disappointment weighing heavily on them both.

As she pulled into the driveway, the car came to a slow stop. She turned to Charlie, her face softening.

“Dinner’s in the fridge if you’re hungry. I have a few errands to run, but I won’t be long. Love you, sweetheart!”

“Yeah…” Charlie mumbled without meeting her eyes. He swung the car door open and headed into the house.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

The door clicked shut behind him, and the silence of the empty house wrapped around him.

He dropped his backpack by the couch but didn’t bother to sit down. Something gnawed at the back of his mind—an itch he couldn’t ignore.

His mom had seemed calm, too calm, especially after their earlier argument. Why couldn’t she just tell him what she was up to?

His curiosity got the better of him. Quietly, he tiptoed into her bedroom, the air feeling heavier as if he were crossing an invisible line.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Sitting at her desk, he opened her laptop.

The screen glowed to life, and he hesitated for a moment before clicking on her email.

Most of it was unimportant—work notices, receipts, newsletters.

Then he spotted something unusual: an email confirming a delivery scheduled for his upcoming birthday.

His brow furrowed as he clicked it open.

His eyes widened. The delivery wasn’t a one-time thing. There were 14 more planned—one every year for the next 15 years.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“What the…?” he muttered, his heart racing.

Confused and uneasy, he dug deeper, scrolling through her emails until he found an address for a storage unit.

Beneath a pile of papers in her drawer, he found a small key labeled with the same address.

His pulse quickened as he grabbed the key and headed out the door.

The storage unit loomed ahead, its metal door glinting faintly under the dull light of the parking lot.

Charlie unlocked it with trembling hands. As the door creaked open, he froze.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Inside, more than a dozen neatly wrapped gifts were arranged in a row.

They were all different sizes, some small enough to fit in his palm, others big enough to hold a bike.

Each was topped with a handwritten note in his mom’s familiar, looping script.

He stepped inside, the scent of cardboard and faint perfume hanging in the air. He picked up one note and read:

“Happy 17th birthday, sweetheart. I love you more than anything in the world. I hope you like this computer. Study hard!”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

His throat tightened as he set the note back. Why had she done this?

He moved to the first gift, a small box with two notes attached. Pulling off the first, his breath caught as he began to read:

“My dear son, if you’re reading this, I may no longer be with you. For years, I’ve known I had cancer, and no treatment has worked. My time is limited, but I didn’t want your birthdays to feel empty after I’m gone.”

The words blurred as tears filled his eyes. He wiped his face, but the tears kept coming, spilling onto the paper.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“That’s why I prepared these gifts ahead of time. They may not always be exactly what you want, but please open one each birthday and know I love you. Always.”

Charlie let out a shaky breath as he clutched the note. His chest ached in a way he’d never felt before.

He looked around the storage unit, the gifts that suddenly felt so much more than just objects.

They were pieces of her love, her effort to stay with him even when she couldn’t.

He gently placed the note back, closed the door, and leaned against it for a moment.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

His heart was heavy, but it was full of something else too—a deeper understanding of what his mom had done for him.

The drive home was quiet. The world outside blurred, but his mind raced with emotions. He didn’t care about a car anymore.

What mattered now was something far greater.

Charlie stepped quietly into the living room, his shoes scuffing softly against the wooden floor.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

His mom, Alice, was perched on the couch, a book resting in her lap.

She was smiling faintly, her eyes scanning the pages, completely unaware of the emotional storm that had just swept over her son.

Charlie hesitated in the doorway, his chest rising and falling with uneven breaths. His eyes were red, swollen from crying, and his face held a mix of fear and heartbreak.

Alice looked up, her smile fading as she took in his expression. Alarm spread across her face.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“Charlie! What’s wrong? Where were you?” she asked, setting the book aside and leaning forward.

“Mom!” he choked out, his voice breaking as he rushed across the room. He threw his arms around her, clinging to her tightly.

“Sweetheart, tell me what’s going on,” she said, her voice soft but urgent. She stroked his back gently, trying to calm him. “How can I help?”

Charlie pulled back slightly, his hands trembling as he wiped at his face.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“I know, Mom. I went to the storage unit,” he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.

Alice stiffened, her eyes widening.

“What? Why? What were you doing there?” she asked, a hint of panic creeping into her tone.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Charlie cried, his voice breaking again.

“Isn’t there anything we can do?”

Alice took a deep breath, her lips quivering.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“There’s nothing, Charlie. I’m so sorry,” she said, tears brimming in her eyes.

“No, Mom, I’m sorry,” he said quickly, shaking his head.

“I’ve been such a terrible son. I don’t need a car or any gifts. None of that matters. I just want you to be with me.”

“Charlie…” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.

“Please, Mom,” he begged, his voice desperate.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“I want to spend as much time with you as I can. I love you!”

Alice pulled him close again, her own tears spilling over now.

“I love you too, sweetheart,” she said, her voice breaking as she held him tightly.

The room was quiet except for their soft cries, their embrace a fragile but powerful moment of love and understanding.

Tell us what you think about this story, and share it with your friends. It might inspire them and brighten their day.

If you enjoyed this story, read this one: Every man reaches a moment when he wants to settle down and have a loving family. But not Henry—he was convinced he would stay single forever, believing it was the better life for him. However, a day spent with his nine-year-old niece makes him realize the true reason behind his life choices.

This piece is inspired by stories from the everyday lives of our readers and written by a professional writer. Any resemblance to actual names or locations is purely coincidental. All images are for illustration purposes only. Share your story with us; maybe it will change someone’s life.

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