Elderly man
cares for son
at home for years
before nursing
home


By Mary Garrison
Tribune-Courier Features Editor
mgarrison@tribunecourier.com

BENTON – Above all things, W.J. Jeter is a good father.
Already the proud parent of two children, Jeter celebrated the birth of his third child, Terry, in 1955.

But Terry wasn’t like his other children. Terry was “injured at birth” and born with a severe cerebral disorder. He cannot walk, talk or feed himself.

Terry is, however, cognizant, and Jeter makes absolutely certain his son sees him every day.

For the majority of his life, Terry’s parents cared for him at home. With four children in all, one born after Terry, Jeter and his family moved to Benton in 1960. He worked as a heavy equipment operator in Calvert City to provide for his family for many years. Jeter was first and foremost, though, a father.

Then, in 1993, Jeter’s wife passed away, leaving him to care for his son alone. And he did so gladly, for four years. At age 78, however, the task became increasingly difficult. “We always knew that one day Terry would have to go somewhere,” Jeter said. “He knew it, and he was ready to.

“I was afraid to leave him to go to the store and get groceries or anything,” Jeter continued. “So finally, I had to put him in Long Term Care at Marshall County Hospital.”

That was 12 years ago, but Jeter still makes it a point to spend quality time with his son. Now in Britthaven of Benton, Jeter comes to visit with Terry three times a day, religiously.

“I can’t see very well to drive at night,” the 90-year-old Jeter said. “When the days are shorter, I can only come twice a day.”

Jeter always finds a way to be there, no matter what, though — even during the devastating ice storm that ravaged the region in January. “The folks up here [at Britthaven] pulled me a bed into Terry’s room so I could stay up here with him,” Jeter said. “It was a really nice thing for them to do for us.”

Jeter still assists in Terry’s care, as well. Though he said he knew the staff would never mind and sometimes do, he’s there to administer Terry’s medicine. He often helps to feed Terry, as well.

Together they watch television, listen to the radio and just enjoy one another’s company. “He knows what’s coming on [TV] for the next three days — he’ll flip right to it,” Jeter laughed. “I can’t keep up with what’s coming on next.”

No matter what life throws at him, Jeter continues to rewrite the meaning of devotion in his love for Terry. “I love my son,” Jeter said. “I love all my children, very much. But Terry, he needs me most.”