Sky Blossom: Diaries of the Next Greatest Generation

- [Announcer] Funding for "Sky B "Diaries of the Next Greatest Generation," is provided by: (gentle music) - Hi, I'm Elizabeth Dole.

Tonight, during this month, celebrating our veterans and family caregivers, I'm proud to welcome you to this presentation of "Sky Blossom, Diaries of the Next Greatest Generation," Thanks for being here.

As a former Senator and Cabinet there have few honors that I hol than celebrating our country's service members.

When I would go to military hospitals with my husband, Bob, I always spent time visiting with the spouses and children.

They would share their stories of caring for their veteran.

I was inspired by their grit and So eight years ago, we set out at the Elizabeth Dole Foundation to support those who care for en and retired military personnel.

That's five and a half million military and veteran caregivers As part of that launch, Tom Hanks and I welcomed several ambassadors to help us get the word out, and one of them, news anchor, Richard Lui brought up the idea of putting our hidden heroes on the silver screen.

I told him, "They deserved it."

The documentary called, "Sky Blo is four years in the making.

I'm proud to say it is an Academy Award qualifying film that has also been listed by "Va as one of the top 25 Oscar contenders for 2021.

This is a moment when we can all come together as one in this great nation.

It takes us into the homes and l of some of the most inspiring, selfless young people in their teens and 20s.

They are what makes the future of this country strong.

The families you'll see in the f come from every corner of Americ from the Heartland to Hawaii, and they represent every major ethnic group.

Even though we might look differ all of us who care for a loved one are the same.

We do it because it is our honor My husband, Bob, served in World and that's when paratroops first became essential.

They would come from the sky, bringing military and medical su As their chutes opened, troops on the ground would look up and say, "Here come the Sky Blossoms!"

Today's Sky Blossoms are young caregivers at home.

We're excited to introduce you to some of them today.

They're growing up as America's next greatest generation.

I hope you enjoy the film.

- As Speaker of the House, on behalf of the Congress, it is a privilege to thank the Elizabeth Dole Foundation and the entire "Sky Blossom" team for shining a bright light on the struggles and sacrifice of our hidden heroes, our military caregivers.

All too often, our 5.5 million hidden heroes, particularly young caregivers, exist in the shadows, shouldering an enormous responsi They care for our veterans even as they raise their familie They undertake a full-time careg as they maintain their careers, and they must reorient their ent as they help rebuild those of the people they love.

Six years ago, I was honored to be invited by Elizabeth Dole to join John McCain and others to help launch the bipartisan Hidden Heroes Congressional Caucus.

There is nothing partisan about fighting for our military caregivers.

Today, the Caucus continues to help deliver results for veterans and caregivers and remains hopeful and vigilant as the VA continues to make prog expanding its caregiver initiati to families from all war eras.

And congratulations to the brilliant filmmakers of "Sky Blossom" on the film's wonderful success and all your well-deserved recog - Hello, I'm David Hyde Pierce, and Richard Lui reached out to me about "Sky Blossom," because he knew of my family's connection with caregiving, taking care of my grandfather an who suffered from Alzheimer's and dementia.

But none of that experience prep for the depth of devotion and self-sacrifice and bravery and love shown by the families in this film.

There are more heroes per square inch in "Sky Blossom" than there were in "Saving Priva heroes on both sides of the came And as a testament to the power and importance of this film, "Variety" has put it on its list of 25 Oscar contenders, and I would say it should also be on the list for the Nobel Peace Prize, the Heisman Trophy and anything else we can think o I think you're so lucky to be seeing this film, and we are so blessed that Richard made it, so please enjoy and please stay for the credits.

(somber music) (birds chirp) - [PA system] There will be no phone call sign outs.

There'll be no late note takers, so if you have your notes... (girls whisper) - My name is Deryn, and I'm in 11th grade.

I just don't like school, like normal teenagers do.

(school bell buzzes) (students chatter faintly) - I just kind of like keep to myself, do my work.

I'm kind of a quiet person.

(somber music continues) (cow moos) (tractor engine whirs) (wind chimes toll) - Can you come get my legs?

- I'm trying to secure them now.

- Gotta hike my skirt up.

Can you do me a favor?

- Hmm?

- Put your hands inside here, spread it apart.

Yep, both hands in, spread.

- Squeeze.

- Try to push over.

- This way?

I'm trying my best.

- It's all right.

- [Deryn] It's not-- working that well.

- It hurts.

- [Deryn] You want me to put my foot down?

- [Chaz] Yeah.

- [Deryn] This way?

- Yep, just like that.

- Got it?

You got it?

What about this one?

(uplifting orchestral music) - [Reporter] 65 million people that taking care of an ill, disabled, elderly loved one, and it is crushing the American family.

- [News Anchor] Caregiving can be a huge expense for loved ones.

Caregivers for veterans, giving up their regular lives to those hurt in our country's recent wars.

- [News Anchor] Children hear the last school bell of the day and know their biggest challenge awaits at home.

(melancholy music) - Ryann, you got ready?

No.

What did you make, taters?

- Ouch, pizza.

- Tacos?

That's our Italiano.

Come here, Chutz.

All right, come here, Bill.

Come on, you know where to go.

- [Deryn] I get called the mom a lot because I'm always on top of things, and I always have extra stuff.

I'm like, "You need to wear sunscreen."

"You need to do this, this, and this."

- You're ready to go to the store?

- Not you Chu Chu, you, Chu Chu, you stay.

- You stay here, babe.

- Oh, come here, Chu Chu.

Come here, Chu Chu.

You wanna go?

- Come on, Chutz.

- Okay, she's going now.

- Come on, Chutz.

- She can't, oh God, she is (laughs).

- Go get them, go get them.

- Come on, Chu Chu, let's go to - Come on.

- Yes.

Oh.

- Come on.

(Chu Chu barks) Come on.

(car engine revs) - Just little things like, "Hey, move that box," or, "Hey, make sure he doesn't "hit his elbow on the door," or, "Hey, make sure to get his bottle, make sure...

It's like not too high up or anything.

It's just like little things that are obviously not that hard.

People aren't used to it.

They'll stand so many feet away, and then every time he moves, they'll move even further.

And it's really funny, we make it like a game.

Kids will come up to him, and they'll be like, "How'd you lose your legs?"

And he's like, "Well, I didn't eat my broccoli.

So make sure to eat your broccoli so you don't lose your legs."

- Thanks pal.

- You're welcome, watch your chair, careful.

Right, there it is.

- That tickles.

- Okay, give me the legs.

He's just my dad, like it's normal.

I don't care what people say, he's cool.

- [Jenna] I was at work when my dad called me and told me that they were going to have to take his leg.

We didn't know if he was gonna make it.

He was at extremely high risk of having a heart attack.

So I had to leave work, and basically, potentially, just go say goodbye to my dad.

My dad's dad died when he was 12.

I couldn't imagine.. being that young... and not having him there.

- [Bill] For 47 years, I've had a right foot, and been able to drive a truck.

Now, I can't do that.

They put me on disability, Jenna welcomed it with open arms and said, "Okay, dad, I'll do the best I can to help you out."

She makes all my doctor's appointments.

- Making sure he has medicine.

- She knows more of what medicines I take than I do.

- 19 different pills along with 4 shots of insulin daily.

I'm gonna set this thing, so it's ready for tomorrow.

Give you all of them.

Let me see your hand.

Numb, okay.

I know I'm getting to a point in my life, where I'm gonna be finishing school, and then I'm gonna have to really start in my career.

I know I want a family, but I definitely don't want to rush anything.

Because this is what I was supposed to do.

My dad took care of me, my first 18 years.

The least I could do is step down on the step and let him put his hand on my shoulder.

(melancholy music) - [Interviewer] How strong is your dad?

- [Rhianna] Really strong... like this!

- Do you want this?

Yeah.

- He looks different than he used to do, but I still love him.

He's there for me, and he makes me happy.

- [Rocio] Thank you.

- Cheers, guys.

- Thank you.

Physically, Brian can't eat.

Whatever he craves, I eat.

That's not true!

- Well, no, I don't like your tongue tacos, lengua, that I won't eat.

[Brian Speaks Softly] No, I didn't say that.

But he wants the donut, what does he go do?

He buys me my donut and then he gets whatever he wants to eat.

My weight goes up and down on, depending on what he's craving.

Brian, your medicine.

He worked at a call center.

He gave me his number.

Well, he gave his number to his friend to give to me after he walked out.

But his friend decided to give it to me while he was still there.

So he was shy.

He was getting deployed.

So we basically interacted by emails, letters, phone calls.

That was basically our courtship.

As soon as he got back, we got together, we got engaged.

I got pregnant, we got married.

Then Rhianna was born.

Rhianna, she looks after him a lot.

(car door thuds) - [Rhianna] I check on with him, making sure if he's okay.

- [Rocio] Occasionally, he experiences people staring at him.

The ugly stares.

- I'd tell him to turn around.

Turn around!

Stop staring at my parents.

Please!

(birds chirp) (melancholy music) - [Camille] Is this it right here?

This one?

I think it's this one.

- Yeah, it looks like it.

Yeah, good, yeah.

- Hey dad, do you wanna do his pills now?

I'm gonna start setting up this one.

Just taking it out - Okay, so this is acetaminophen.

How are you feeling, as far as pain?

'Cause it says- - No pain.

- Take three tablets by mouth every eight hours.

- Put it in, yeah.

- Okay.

(Camille laughs) - I make sure my grandfather is comfortable at all times.

Not too hot, not too cold, almost like a little butler in a way.

All right here, I got your ears for you.

Go put them over there on the table.

Put 'em there.

- You want 'em over there?

- Yeah, so I can put them in later.

- Okay.

It's about the love and the care and you just have to make sure that you're showing it.

- Pop Pop it's time to wake up.

Okay, there you go.

Okay, good, how are you feeling?

- Good, feeling good.

- Okay, come on.

All right.

Very good.

How'd you sleep?

- I slept good tonight, real good.

- All right, very good.

In our family, the loved ones really had no other option but have family take care of them.

So it was kind of the norm on my father's side, as well in my mother's side.

But it was really fell on the females of the family.

- My dad is always there to make sure that everything's going well, that my grandfather is doing fine.

- Excellent, all right, breakfast in half hour.

- Okay, real good.

- Okay, so take your time, get ready, and we'll see you outside.

- He works a lot harder than it seems.

Family is number one for him.

He doesn't put anything else before that.

- I'd give you a high top fade, but there's nothing high top on there.

He cares about me.

I hope I trained him that way when he was growing up!

That if anything ever happens to me, he would be there.

And he learned it through his mother, when she was in her condition.

- My mother, she got diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2011.

I never really expected to be a full-time caregiver to my mother and father, and then try and juggle work, and a family, a new family, new child.

So it was like a lot being thrown on my shoulders at once.

- Do you want me to shut the door whenever you're done, dad?

- Okay, very good.

- Oh.

- That okay.

- Let step up here real quick.

- Oh he does everything.

He feeds me, makes sure I take my medicines on time, the right time.

He has been a great son.

- There we go, that's right.

- He's got a little help from his daughter, my granddaughter - Watch your knees.

- [Rob Sr.] Okay.

- Do you recognize any of these drills?

- Yeah, all I recognize is running, okay.

- Yeah, a lot of warmup stuff.

- Oh, yeah.

- Hopefully this season we do well.

- Yeah, all right.

- Are you gonna come to some of the games with me?

- Oh yes.

- All right.

We have always been kinda close.

He just calls me his little one.

We have this great relationship that's built on love of football and each other.

- I played football at Pitt.

I was the first African American player to play in the Sugar Bowl in 1956.

- There was a gentleman's agreement at that time that no integrated teams played Southern teams.

And it was the Governor of Georgia who demanded that Georgia Tech not play against Pitt.

And so, there were riots that were going on.

- And all the players got together and they had a meeting.

And they told the athletic director: If I don't go... they won't go.

That made me feel great that my team was behind me one hundred percent.

- [Commentator] Grier takes the hand off from Nimm.

Breaks off a left tackle.

Fights his way towards the sideline, and down to the Tech yard line for a gain of 18 yards in the pl - We learned through sports how to work as a team And then you work as a team in the family.

- Nice catch, Pop Pop.

- All right, ready?

- Ready.

- Okay.

- Okay.

- [Rob Jr.] Camille, she's 15, about to be 16.

She's very busy, she's a teenager.

She has friends, and parties to go to, and activities, and I understand her life is bus but I really appreciate her taking the time to help dad.

It's important for her to see just the natural progression of what families have to go through.

(melancholy music) (chickens cluck) - [Kamaile] Oh, baba, how is it?

- Okay.

- What'd you up to?

Where's the animals?

Rusty.

I'm Kamaile Kapanui.

I'm 26 years old, and it's getting kinda crazy with grandpa just 'cause he's forgetful.

In his world, things are going a little bit differently.

- Okay.

- Okay, I'll take him outside.

He's not allowed in here.

(goat bleats) (Kamaile and grandpa laugh) - Hello.

- I try not to leave him at home alone for more than an hour.

- Say goodbye.

- So if I'm not working, I'm usually hanging out here.

He keeps things kind of tidy, which is nice.

A little bit of help is nice.

Hi Kaliko, hi Kaliko.

Is that green onion?

- Yeah, I gotta separate those so it grows better.

'Sup Kamaile.

- What's up?

- Grab a shovel.

- You're the gardener, not me.

- [Kaleo] I'm 18, I just graduated from Waimea High School this past year, and I'm a college student.

I got a two-year scholarship, so see how that goes.

I was full-time but I cut some classes so I could work.

Maybe when all this is done, probably go up to the mainland.

Here are the AM pills that he takes as soon as he wakes up.

Here papa, some vitamins.

- Oh.

- So my grandpa went all over Japan, Korea.

He used to drive those big trucks with all the soldiers in the back.

He was the gunman, working the artillery.

Yeah, he just tells me everywhere he went.

I sleep right next to my grandpa just to watch him, just to make sure he's all good.

Sometimes he wake up three o'clock in the morning, and he doesn't go back to sleep until six.

So I'm up all night trying to get him to go back to sleep.

I was already watching him before he got dementia.

Everybody knows I take care of my grandpa.

My friends, what's it called?

Spamming my phone, "Oh, when you're gonna come?

"When you're gonna come?"

Maybe not tonight.

Maybe who knows?

Depending on my grandpa, you know what I mean?

(nostalgic music) - You spray, I clean?

(giggles) I can sense when he's not well.

It's not easy caring for somebody who is going through a lot of changes physically, mentally.

They don't want us to suffer wit so they do push us away.

He started having issues with the tonsils.

He was going back to the dentist and his regular doctor, and they just kept on giving him antibiotics.

I mean, it wouldn't go away.

And then he started seeing pieces of, I guess... - Tissue.

- Tissue or you know from the mouth that were falling.

That was what we ended up going to the VA. We got the diagnosis.

Rhianna was months old.

It's a type of cancer that not a guy his age would have.

The doctor said it is service-related.

- Veterans who served in the Middle East, along with some private contractors are complaining of breathing problems associated with large areas of burning garbage.

- [News Reporter] At some of the military bases throughout those regions, waste materials were disposed of in so-called burn pits.

(fire crackles) Breathing fumes from those fires appears to have damaged the health of countless veterans.

- [Interviewer] What were some of the things you remember seeing that were being thrown in before you would set the flame?

- Plastic and human waste.

- Body parts, Styrofoam, stuff that you shouldn't be burning up.

- [Interviewer] And then what do you put on top?

- Diesel fuel.

- Diesel fuel to light it up.

- [Interviewer] Masks?

- We didn't have masks.

- His health has gone up and down.

It's been one diagnosis after another diagnosis.

And then just certain things that we had never expected for us to go through.

When he was taking a shower, and he realized his hair... And he realized his hair was falling, to hear him cry, I think that was the hardest for me 'cause he's strong, and just to see him break... broke me.

I offered to cut my hair, but he's like, "No."

I let him know we're with you, and we're not going anywhere.

(melancholy music) Rhianna, she's very strong, and she's always defending him, looking after him.

She doesn't show her weak side regardless of the situation.

- Oh, it's hard for people to understand him.

When he's trying to say something, they're like, "I can't hear you, "Say that one more time."

And then they said that thing what he's actually saying, they say, "Oh, I get it now."

- Are you gonna go?

You're gonna go with us?

Yes, okay, okay.

It's time to go to school, let's go.

(car engine revs) She has ADHD, and she is on the spectrum.

Because of her disability, and her learning and speech, kids tend to make fun of her and call her names.

The sweater right now, okay.

And there was a couple of occasions where we both witnessed some of the bullying, and we would bring it up to the attention of the principal, and they would like, "Oh, well, "I need to get the story from the other student."

I'm like, "What are you talking about?"

"I just saw how it happened."

Rhianna, time to go to bed.

(melancholy music) I feel like because of everything, we've neglected her.

Not on purpose of course, but because I've had to stay in the hospital to take care of him.

(kiss smooches) Go to sleep now.

- [Rhianna] Okay.

- Sweet dreams.

- [Rhianna] Okay.

- Those were her years of her development.

Night, hold still, night.

(marching band music) - Want a program?

Do y'all want the program?

- [Announcer] Welcome to Warren County High School, home of the Pioneers.

(marching band music) (crowd cheers) - A lot of times people can see the veteran.

They can see the wounds, and they think they can understand.

But they're so focused on the veteran, they don't think about who else is affected by the veterans' wounds.

(cheerleaders chant faintly) - After Chaz got hurt, it was a whole new way of life.

- I was a staff Sergeant in the US Army infantry.

I was in Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan.

We're right here currently.

When you have a task and a purpose, it's 100%, 200% go.

[Chaz] Give me a radio check, something.

(explosion blasts) Help!

Help!

Help, good god!

Help goddammit!

- I'm with you Sergeant Allen!

Stay with me!

- They told me he was dead.

I mean, they literally told me he was dead.

So I was at the absolute bottom.

When we found out his brain was okay, everything was good.

I looked at Deryn and I said, "Dad's gonna come home."

And she goes, "There's something wrong with his legs."

And I said, "Yeah, they're gone."

And she's like, "What do you mean?"

And I said, "Your dad stepped "on a bomb, big explosion."

He was so catastrophically wounded, there was no way he could be a dad.

So we didn't bring the girls to even see him until March, when he was feeling better.

- [Deryn] And as soon as I saw him, and I was like, "Oh, it's just dad."

A few days after that, I was like, "I wanna help him."

I'm gonna be his nurse, and I'm gonna work in this hospital, and I'm gonna help everybody.

And so, I would change his IVs and stuff.

Later on down the road, he had a flesh-eating bacteria in his back, and I was kinda freaking out because he was getting really sick.

And I was like, "Oh my God, what's gonna happen?

He had this open wound, I had to put this jelly stuff.

And then he got taken care of, and I was like, "He's invincible."

Nothing's gonna happen anymore.

(hopeful music) - [Jessica] Just because you bring these guys home doesn't mean we're done.

I said, "I understand you're angry."

"I don't know what you saw, "but I can understand your anger "so you have two paths.

"We can work this out together, "or you can work it out on your own."

And he said that, that was the moment he was like, "Oh."

And I just said, "I'm here.

"But you're not gonna take this out on us."

Back then, PTSD didn't even have a name yet.

- There are some instances where a traumatic event can stunt you for a time period.

But there's a point where you need to kick yourself in the butt and move out.

People always just assume that the VA will take care of everything.

And there are things out there that the VA provides, but when it comes down to it, when you're back home with your family, you're left up to your own to fend for yourself.

(birds chirp) Hello.

- [Deryn] You can use me as your human walking stick.

- Yeah.

- Oh, my God.

- Child.

- Hello.

- Yep.

- It's our family portrait, we just... - Yeah, we just... - Welcome to the Allen family.

- Hi, hi, welcome to Chili's.

(laughs) - It's fun because like you're with that person, and then you're helping them, and then when they're happy, you're happy.

He does kind of rely on me, in a... Not in a bad way, obviously.

But I'm always making sure he's okay, and that he's taken care of, and that he's always happy.

(sob (nurse speaks faintly) - Bye, Chaz.

- Bye, Chaz.

- [Chaz] Thanks.

- Have a great weekend.

Thank you, guys.

- All right, I'm off.

- When you're in the middle of crisis, you're looking for anything you can control.

What can you control?

For me, it was money, 'cause I'm really good with money.

From veterans, the financial situation is so complex because you have to deal with, VA, DoD, IRS.

And the information was not in one place.

- Right now, we are dependent on Chaz's stipends.

If he dies tomorrow, they're gone.

They're gone, zero.

That's it, our funding is gone.

Medical bills are usually the top reason for bankruptcy.

Bankruptcy and financial issues are the top reasons for suicide, for domestic violence, for divorce.

I mean, finances play more into your life than what we really give it credit for.

(birds chirp) - This is what I do.

Just start a pile, and start going through it.

This is bank, this is bills.

This is all school.

(paper rustles) This is probably a medical bill that I don't have money for.

So I just don't worry about it.

My dad asks me a lot when I come home, how come I just kinda sit in here and shut the door?

And I'm like, 'cause that's my privacy, and this is my peace.

(chuckles) Something I didn't have before.

- [Bill] After the Navy.

I went in as a truck driver.

I love driving truck.

I didn't make super great money, but I made good enough money that I could support my family.

- You took insulin and what else?

Did you take pills, any pills?

- Nope, not yet.

- [Jenna] My dad had a stroke.

He was in the hospital for about four months.

- I couldn't drive truck anymore.

And then I lost my job.

Things weren't so great, that's for sure.

- It was like snowball but a big one thrown fast.

- [Bill] All right, I took my insulin.

You better hurry up with dinner.

- I'm trying.

- And I thought, what am I gonna do if my dad can't work anymore?

- [Bill] I mean, we lost everything.

We didn't even have furniture.

We just barely squeezed by on food.

And yeah, we were homeless.

I mean, I don't think that I felt as homeless as the girls did.

My ex-wife couldn't handle it, that's why she left.

It was kinda demoralizing for it to happen.

But I had kids, I couldn't let them starve.

- [Jenna] We'd start running low on money.

- [Bill] We moved into a hotel.

- Like a really cheap hotel.

When we would get to close to the end of the month, we'd have to pack out, and that we'd have to do it all over again.

And we were going to the food banks to get food.

I guess the time that it really hit me was when we had our first home-cooked meal in the hotel.

It was just three of us, and we had made a pot of spaghetti, the same size as if we were still all five of us back at home.

- [Bill] This is the hotel we were at.

- Me and my sister would just share that bed.

There's still red marks from when I dyed my hair on the ground (laughs) - [Bill] Oh, my gosh.

- We lived out of laundry bags, and they'd be down here, and then I'd fold clothes, and then stack it up here.

And then I also kept the dog food in here because our dog was also in here with us.

Then this itty-bitty tiny refrigerator.

- Refrigerator.

- The only thing that you could fit in it was a pint of milk.

Yup.

- Yup.

- Two drawers.

School's always been an escape for me.

Hey, how's it going?

- Good, and you?

- It's going all right.

Last fall, I took six classes, and then I worked 40 hours, roughly a week.

- Did you say Jenna?

- Yeah.

- Okay, cool.

- How can I help you today?

- So I knew I had to do some kind of paperwork.

It needed, I don't know what it is, but I just wanted to get it taken care of.

- Yeah, so you have your ID there?

- There are times where it's not perfect.

I don't just take care of my dad, go to work, go to school, get good grades, and everything's A-okay.

2019 when I did my taxes.

- Yep.

- I claimed head of household.

Give me one second.

- Yep.

- I'm sorry.

Hello?

Yes.

I'm doing all right.

Being in school, trying to explain to your boss, I can't come in on Tuesday, the day that you scheduled me because my dad has three other doctors' appointments, we only have one vehicle, and I'm the only way my dad can get there.

I was running late, and Derek was like, "Don't worry about getting here "so fast, get here safely."

And I've never had a job that has been like that.

So I really appreciate you guys being so understanding of everything.

Okay, I'll be there, I think, in the morning.

I'm sorry, that was my general manager calling.

- Okay, yup, that's okay.

- A hundred things at one time.

I'm always doing a lot.

- Yup, so all right.

- So I really appreciate it.

Thank you.

- Yeah, have a good day.

- Last semester, when I got all those A's, it was a rough semester for me to get to that.

Being homeless, and going to school, trying to work... and then being pregnant... Not being able to bring a child into this world with a father.

I never wanted to do that, but some of us are more responsible than others.

Having this child is just a bigger push, a lot more motivation.

That's when you took me out for my 21st birthday.

- Yeah, and there's your bottle of wine.

(Jenna laughs) - My dad is my best friend.

He just always pushes me to do better and do what's best for myself.

Some people see my situation, and they're like absolutely baffled as to how I do it.

I want to do it.

- [Kamaile] Hi, everyone, good afternoon.

- [Machine] Thank you.

- I'm a deck hand for Holo Holo Charters.

I plan double major in oceanography and some kind of atmospheric science.

I'd love to get a job on a research boat.

We're gonna take off everything from the morning trip and then, load up everything for the afternoon trip, scrub the deck, and wipe down the windows and the railings, clean the bathroom.

These are the buckets that the seasick people get to use.

I'm taking the semester off to take care of grandpa.

It's just getting kinda crazy being in school, and working, and trying to be here with grandpa, so.

School will always be there, grandpa won't.

Baba, do you wanna come tell the about all your fishing stuff over here?

Is that a lobster trap or crab trap?

- Lobster.

- Lobster trap.

He was the first lifeguard at Waimea Swimming Pool right down the street.

He actually met my grandma 'cause he was giving her surf lessons, and they were married for 52 years.

He moves stuff around.

So whenever he can't find something, sometimes he'll blame my grandma Be like, "Your grandma just moves things "and doesn't tell me where she's moving it to."

I'm like, "Yeah."

She got diagnosed with brain cancer, and by then it was... She only had a few months left after that, so.

And that happened shortly after my mom passed away.

She took her own life.

Came over from work.

And found her.

She hung herself on the tree outside my bedroom window.

That was about 2 1/2 years ago.

- My mom, she had bipolarism.

It's like different mood swings.

The doctor prescribed her, these pills or something to help her.

It wasn't really helping her.

It was more like making her turn into like-.

She would just sleep in all day, yeah.

And then she just was just all sad all the time.

- My grandpa doesn't remember that she or my grandma passed away.

And whenever he would ask about them, we would tell him what happened, but he would always, to him, it would be like he was hearing it for the first time.

I'm okay, I feel like I've gotten over the hard parts, but I still think of my mom and my grandma every day.

It's hard during times, like when the hurricane was coming a few weeks ago, I've never really had to prep for a hurricane like that before and the whole time I was just like, I wish my mom was here or I wish my grandma was here to offer any kind of advice.

And yeah, just kind of think of them when I'd usually call them for some kind of help with anything.

My grandpa's like the last one that we have.

So to lose him would be a lot.

- Do leaves change colors?

- Yes.

- Can a magnet pick up metal?

- Yes.

- Do skunks have an unpleasant s - Yes.

- We usually go through lists to help keep his mental ability and his response times up and quick, and making sure that he's still sharp.

Do eyelashes protect your eyes?

- No.

- No?

- No, yes, (chuckles), yes.

- 98% of the time, he's usually right.

Last one, can you see your shadow at night?

- No.

- Good job.

- No.

- He's starting to be a little bit more forgetful.

I do worry that, it might get to a point where it'll be too much for my dad.

(wood clacks) - Taking the extra time to take care of mom and taking care of dad means that I can't be at two places at one time.

My wife asked me one time, "Why do you take care of your parents so much?

"Why do you spend so much time "taking care of your parents?"

And I said, "They're my parents, one, "and I love them, "and they took care of me, "they raised me.

"Now, that it's their time of need, "if I don't do it, who's gonna do it?"

We started growing apart, started seeing my daughter less.

- There would be times where I would be going to these events, and he wouldn't be able to make it.

And there would be a lot of time when I wouldn't see him for weeks on end.

- And then one day on a school night, her and Camille, they just left.

I was a 24/7 father to Camille.

So not seeing her, man, that was hard.

- I actually live with my mom 'cause my parents are divorced.

We were definitely a lot closer when I was a child.

As I got older, we kinda grew apart a little bit.

I got closer with my mom.

Our relationship became kinda strained, but we're trying to fix that and do a little bit better.

- He's given up a part of his life to take care of me (parrot squawks) - In the summertime, we'd come down here in Florida for a little R&R.

(airboat engine whirs) - It's fun.

- We all have a good time.

- We have to do your eye drop, okay?

- Okay.

- There you go.

Do you wanna put your ears on?

- [Rob Sr.] Yeah, yes.

- Okay.

- My granddaughter, to be as young as she is and help out like she does is great.

(toaster clanks) - There you go, be generous.

Oh, you already got the fork, thank you, thank you so much.

I can't expect her to do everything of what I do.

- Here you go.

- Alrighty, thank you.

- And I know she has friends in school, and so I'm asking her to, "Hey, I need you to come and do these chores."

Which she doesn't really wanna hear that.

- How's your food, Pop Pop?

- They're very good.

- Tastes good with the honey on it?

- Very good with the honey on that.

- That's good.

- Got it?

- Yeah.

- I feel like it's made me have to grow up a little bit faster than I should but because I'm here, making those memories with my family instead of out with my friends, I feel like I'm gonna have those instead of missing one party.

And so, I go to here.

- Okay.

- And then usually my most recent picture pops up.

So I'm just gonna edit that a little bit and put it right there.

- I wish you had that when I was coming up!

- I really do wanna try and be here for him as much as possible 'cause I don't know how much longer I have.

So I wanna spend as much as possible with him.

- [Bill] Oh, this way?

Oh, I thought we're going the other way, all right.

Ring the bell.

(bell chimes) - It's been a while since you guys were here.

This is your file.

This is all the paperwork that we went through.

We were able to work with you and get you into a place, right?

Very first page in your file, it's what we called the closure sheet.

We have down here, veteran obtained affordable housing.

So in the course of about eight months, you went from, I'm assuming, feeling what was almost your lowest.

- Hopeless, yup.

- Hopeless to now you feel like you have a really bright future.

- Oh yeah, yeah.

- Yeah, it took a little time, but we got there.

(melancholy music) Jenna, she's really a good kid, and she's a smart kid.

I've been through a lot, and I learned to live with it.

But Jenna, she's definitely my hero.

- I mean, high school, when we were going to the food banks to get food, I would help and volunteer there.

They would throw away all of the baked goods that they couldn't give to families.

And I was like, "This is so much "that I could help other people.

I filled my entire car.

I drove around the school parking lot, flagging people down, asking them, "Do you want any of this?

"Do you want any of this?"

I remember I came across one girl.

She said she had 13 other siblings.

"Just take it.

"Take whatever you want."

- I'm like way proud.

Without her, I don't think I would have gotten this far.

Last week, I had another stroke.

I can't do a lot of things.

I can't grab things or hold things.

I can't even take my own medicine.

- It's gonna be tough, but I'm the type of person that the more challenges that come my way, it's fuel to the fire.

It's made me who I am.

(melancholy music) I think you got it.

- The only thing I can do is tear things apart.

- (laughs) The only thing you can do is tear things apart.

- Yeah.

- My dad, he still has this heart, regardless of whatever has happened.

- Oh, it is a little bath towel.

It's a fox!

- Oh, yeah!

- See, we put the baby's head in here.

I like the little boots, they're so cute.

My dad is a lot of the motivation why I do a lot of the things that I do.

But I know my dad would be the best grandpa.

- [Rob Jr.] As a caregiver, you put your head down, and you do the work.

There you go.

- Okay.

- All right, we're all set.

- Yeah, okay.

- Dad, you watch your step.

You're not really thinking of your own self-care and making sure that you're healthy enough to take care of your loved one.

All right, there you go.

- Yeah, yeah.

- [Camille] Don't forget your seat belt now!

- But you have to take time for yourself.

And then you have to look for help.

Okay, good.

- Okay, will you spray it moving?

- Absolutely, here's what I'll do.

- [Dina] Okay, well, I'm gonna go, and do the laundry, and then make the bed.

- One of the things that dad would never do with me is that he would never take a bath.

I couldn't get him to take a shower, a bath, nothing.

He's like, "I got this.

"I'm just washing up."

"Okay, it's been a week now, you know?

"Okay, it's been two weeks now."

He just would not do it.

- You're not gonna take a shower today though, right?

- Right.

- It's tomorrow.

- Just remember, tomorrow, yeah.

- All right, just checking.

- Okay.

- [Rob Jr.] So with Dena, they have it down to a routine.

So now, he gets a shower three times a week, and it's just fantastic.

So there's a lot of things that it helps out with in, having a break is one of the biggest.

You have to take time for yourself.

You have to find resources that can help you.

You have to get into a routine, something that works.

Mr. Grier, do you wanna get back to your table?

- I got your chair, okay?

- [Dena] Are you gonna take it?

- Yeah.

- [Dena] It's easier to take it through here.

- Yeah.

- Yeah.

- And if it is reaching out to an outside agency, the church or a community organization that can come into the home, that's a huge plus.

Yes, it's gonna be tough, and you want to make sure that they're vetted, and that they treat loved one as well as you are.

But you gotta find some way to have self-care.

(Dena laughs) - Good morning, how are you?

- Doing well, how are you?

Great seeing you again.

- Oh, it's a beautiful morning.

- Yeah, yes.

- Sure is.

Got everything for today?

- [Rob Sr.] Yes.

- Got the key?

- [Rob Sr.] Got the key.

- Okay, good.

- Yeah, all right.

- One of the things that dad's doing right now is he's getting physical therapy and exercise.

Okay, so you got your pills for today?

- Got the pills for today.

- You have your phone?

- I have the phone, yep.

- He goes to an adult daycare, which is we call Club Vet.

That gives me time to go run errands, to go work out, plan the evening meal.

- When my wife had a stroke I would take care of her, make sure everything was done right.

Right off the bat I'd say: "That's my job."

"My wife, my job" One day I may get to a point where my son just can't take care of me.

And I'm worried I'd be stuck in a nursing home somewhere.

- He said, "Well, I'm concerned "because if something happens to you, "who's gonna take care of me?"

And that just hit me like a brick like... - [Interviewer] Who will take care of him if you're not there?

(Rob Jr. sighs) - You wanna live in your home as long as you can.

But what happens if the person is not safe in that home?

- [Camille] Honestly, I just try not to think about that.

It makes me a little upset, so.

With someone who'll treat my grandfather, the best that we can.

- I was there for my mother, and I'm here for my dad.

And so, that's the big thing for me.

I think that I would be more emotional or feel more guilty if I wasn't doing anything for them.

If I wasn't here, giving up my life to help them.

16 candles.

- A lot of times, it can be a little bit hard, but I do my best to try and make sure I'm there.

If you actually really, truly love that person, it won't be hard at all.

Happy birthday to you Happy birthday to you Happy birthday, dear Camille Happy birthday to you - Thank you.

And many more, yes (Camille puffs) - Nice, yay!

(Rob Sr. and Rob Jr. clap) - You want another one?

(laughs) - [Kamaile] I'm just gonna put the flowers on the graves.

- Albert, so Albert.

- Yep, right here.

These are all dead.

Oh, 10 years.

- Who?

I forgot him.

I don't even know him during... Oh, I forgot.

- You must've forgot.

Looks nice, right?

And then Uncle Robert's on the other side.

- Oh.

- [Kamaile] Do you remember Uncle Robert?

- Yeah.

(lighthearted guitar riff) - [Kamaile] My grandpa had a heart attack a few months ago, and he had to get medevaced to Oahu.

That was not looking very good for grandpa.

I'd figured that was his time.

But Kaleo goes up to my grandpa's bedside, and he says, "Papa I'm gonna be graduating "in a couple of months, "and I really want you to be there."

And that broke my heart.

- Doctor is like, "Okay, "if he goes into resuscitation or whatever, "we're not gonna perform CPR."

And then I was like, "If you don't wanna do 'em, I'll do 'em."

'Cause my grandpa had told me five times.

I just told him, "Don't tell me that anymore."

'Cause I don't wanna hear that kinda stuff.

- [Interviewer] Why is it important to take care of your grandfather?

- Well, it might not be important to some people, but to me, I mean, I value family.

- Kuleana is the Hawaiian word for basically responsibility.

And sometimes it's responsibility that's given to you, or you just take up onto yourselves.

I kinda feel like my situation is a little bit of both.

I'm overwhelmed.

I usually take a ride down to the beach.

The last time my mom and I were at the beach together that was at Kekaha Beach, which is just a couple miles up the street.

So I usually go there.

That's my go-to spot.

Stuff's gonna happen, and you can't control anything.

The only thing you can control is how you react to it, and everything's gonna be okay.

Just gotta do what you gotta do.

Handle your Kuleana.

- [Interviewer] What does caregiving mean, Rocio?

- [Rocio] I wouldn't know.

To me, those are my vows to take care of him, to take care of each other in sickness and in health, - [Brian] There's no money.

- No money, sorry.

Didn't hit the jackpot.

Happy anniversary.

We don't really plan things too far out because we never know.

But I don't see my life without him.

- It's your special day, mami, you're gonna look pretty.

- Mom.

- Yes?

- I don't want to... - So you can look beautiful.

- No!

- Beautiful.

- No!

- Rhianna has been doing great.

She got Student of the Month for the month of April, so I was basically... - Crying - Crying, and she's been wanting this since kindergarten.

So to finish sixth grade with it was a blessing.

She's gotten a lot into drawing.

So that's helped out a lot.

I just feel like that's gonna be her way of de-stressing.

- This is just a little animal and stars.

I don't know what's this one.

- Tough times make you tougher, right?

Unfortunately, that's what she had to go through.

But I hope and I pray that she will be a better individual when she grows up, and that she'll see with that same heart.

- [Interviewer] How do you remain so strong?

- Humor?

- Humor, make each other laugh, make fun of each other, pick at each other sometimes.

That's the best medicine.

With his condition, you never know.

So it's more of a comfort for us to just focus on today.

- Can you help me?

I'd do it again.

There!

- Got it?

He got his AS.

He wants to continue mechanical engineering.

I see his strength, so I thrive from that, and that gives me the strength, because if he can be strong, why can't I?

So I just wanna say that I'm very, very proud of you, and we love you and I love you.

And we have to be strong for our daughter.

You're here, I'm here.

We got our daughter, and we're together.

(nostalgic music) - [Jessica] Pain is still our biggest issue.

Today on a scale of 1 to 10, he'll probably be hitting close to seven, eight.

We don't know how long we're gonna be doing this because Chaz and all his guys they're breaking records, every day, they're alive.

Because in Vietnam he would have died on the battlefield.

Desert Storm, he would have died in the helicopter.

Chaz stepped on a 40-pound bomb, and they got him home.

Every day he's alive, he's breaking records.

And so, let's hope he breaks 40 years of records.

- [Interviewer] Do you have a hero?

- My dad.

I'm getting emotional.

(sobs) He never complains even though he's in pain every day.

And he's always making sure that we get taken care of, and that we're always happy.

- The silver lining is these girls get to have their family.

He was supposed to retire this year.

So this was his 20th year, this year.

So they would just now have a dad.

He was just literally this guy who came in every once in a while, and instead, they got to have a dad seven years ago.

- That thing is the loudest thing on earth.

That's like a lot of things that I wouldn't do.

I would be (spurts).

- IED.

(Deryn and Ryann laugh) IED, my bad.

- It's just crazy to think we have two high schoolers.

Crazy to think that they're in that last phase of childhood.

- We went and visited Georgia a few days ago.

And while we were there, we decided to tour SCAD.

And yeah, and I thought it was pretty cool.

- Yeah, we're not gonna have our family of four.

I think that's gonna be the hardest part.

The best part is they know the world is big.

It's not just about them.

I think that's a huge lesson.

I think that they have the ability to look beyond what they know, and they have compassion for that.

They won't rush to judgment.

They know that there might be another story.

- And we're off.

(laughs) All right.

(hopeful music) - Yeah.

(uplifting music) - My name is Deryn.

- My name is Jenna Ploof.

- Hi!

- Okay, my name is Camille Grier.

And you spell it, C-A-M-I-L-L-E. - K-A-M-A-I-L-E. (uplifting music continues) - I'm 11, I will turn 12.

- I am 15, actually about to be 16.

- [Interviewer] Well Kaleo, thank you, my friend.

- Anytime.

If you're broken, feeling weary So tired from the fight If your world is slowly sinking So hard to see the light If you can't find the strength To go on another day And your back's against the wall I'll walk through every fire Stand tall there right beside ya Be the one to get you through Yeah, I'll face the lion Take on every giant There's nothing I wouldn't do I'd go to war for you I'll walk through every fire Stand tall there right beside ya Go to war for you Yeah, I'll face the lion Take on every giant There's nothing I wouldn't do It's okay to need somebody To hold you in the dark (enchanting music) Funding for Sky Blossom: Diaries of the Next Greatest Generation is provided by (hopeful music)