Toxic Parent on Death Bed *TW*
So I haven't spoke to my parents since March when they stalked me and harassed me for cutting them off on Thanksgiving. I am still going through counseling and psychiatry to better my mental health from their negative, manipulative nature. Last week, I was contacted by my Half Sister, who I barely speak to, to be told our mother is in ICU at the hospital for a fatal aortic dissection. She was being notified by our aunt since my sister has not spoken to my mother in over 10 plus years. I am still not 100% mentally better, but I have come far. I reached out to my brother who lives with my parents and told him I heard what happened and want to know if he and my father are doing OK. (My mother and I have a trashed relationship by how my father treated her and how she treated me. It is so damaged as her sister and niece harassed me ***. ) I told him I unblocked my father in case he needed to call me. My sister has kept me posted until today, when my father called me for the first time. He brought me up to speed and told me that my mother is now a ticking time bomb and must now stop smoking, drinking, and watch what she intakes. If not, her blood pressure could sky rocket and she would have a stroke and pass away. He told me that this has opened his eyes to how much he loves her and appreciates her. He and her are going to be different , do better from *her heath* experience. He doesn't understand why I pushed them away, why I hate them or am angry with them. I explained, I'm not angry or hateful. I had to step away from the toxicity and negativity to better myself. He doesn't understand mental illness. He belittles it. He says it's because growing up (he's now 61), people *** a lot. There was no such thing as depression. You had to brush it off and keep going. I told him that his kids aren't making stuff up. When we say we ate hurting mentally, that is what's going on inside. And when he calls us nuts or overdramatic, it affects us. We feel embarrassed, unimportant, and undeserving to feel how we feel. He always degraded my mother and started degrading me in front of my children. One final trigger gave me the strength to cut communication and focus on myself for a while. I won't let my kids see me walked over and disrespected. He still doesn't truly understand what he did, but he's doing better and working to better his behavior. I'm not sure how to feel about everything. I'm not sure if what I did was right or wrong. I'm just going to take it day by day. No matter what, my health and my children's health comes first. Thank you for listening.
(Edited for content by @peaceloveandpaws)
@RescuePassion94
I can relate to a lot of what you've said. A family health crisis can be difficult for a family as a whole. It's especially when you are estranged from your family due to toxcicity. I am sorry to hear that you dad doesn't recognize your struggles and actively dismisses your mental health. It feels awful to be invalidated that way. Mental health is just as important as physical health but it sounds like your family has stigmatized you. And, I am so sorry he's done that in front of your family and children. Taking things day by day, working with a treatment team, and forcusing on the needs of your family all sound like positive steps you are taking towards your mental well being. Thank you for sharing your story with us.
@RescuePassion94
Rescue, thank you for your amazing forum post! 
There truly is so much brilliance in your very own words!
ahhhhhh, *sits* with Rescue for a moment. Sure is amazing what it finally takes to encourage us to remove ourselves and our children from a toxic environment. Sometimes it does take our own children to force our hand to make final decisions, the understanding that it's not right and perhaps these are not the right people to be around. I understand.
You know what you saw, you know what was done and you know how you feel. You don't want it now happening to your children. You are the adult now. and now you actually have a choice in the matter. I imagine you wouldn't wish the things that happened to you on anyone, ever!
I would find it a rare occurance for someone that has been victimized to be validated by the people that had done these things to them.
It certainly sounds as if there is a lot going on, many family members involved and new occurances pulling at your heart strings. I hope you never ignore that little voice inside of you that tells you that you are right. I send big *hugs* 