DOWNEY - It hasn’t exactly been the easiest time in Jim Rainey’s life.

The 85-year-old developed Parkinson’s disease around three years ago, which has caused several incidents, including a broken foot. He suddenly and unexpectedly lost his grandson. And now, he’s broken his hip, and endured through the difficult process of hip-replacement surgery.

Now cooped up in a convalescent home, Jim is away from his family during a time of a life storm. Worse, his 82-year-old wife Milladean – who is also injured with a broken arm – is not able to visit very often.

According to Jim’s daughter, Christy Rainey, “everything has come to a head this season.”

Photo Courtesy Positively Downey FB Group

“My nephew [Ryan Huff] would help take care of him when he broke his foot,” said Rainey. “He was healing from that, and then we lost Ryan, and it just got hard from there.”

“It’s just me and him trying to go to doctors’ appointments, visiting him two to three times in the nursing home. It’s just been rough.”

Rainey says that her father “has always been super strong,” and while outwardly he seems to be pulling through the turbulence well, she knows that it has taken a toll on her father’s morale.

That’s when the community stepped in.

A campaign sprouted from the Positively Downey Facebook group, encouraging its members to write and send Jim letters of love and support during his time of need.

“Some of the letters came in today,” said Rainey, who spoke to the Downey Patriot before delivering the care package. “This has been more than I could’ve expected…all the love and support he’s gotten.”

Usually private, Rainey says she’s not entirely sure what moved her and her family to open up in such a way.

“It’s a little hard doing this,” said Rainey. “It’s been strange; we’re not used to this…I just wanted his spirits lifted up. I thought with might do him a lot of good to see that.”

“He’s bounced back from a lot of things…each time he’s come back super strong. He’s been my hero; he’s been his grandkids’ hero.”

For now, Rainey’s hero continues to take the hand that he’s been dealt and face it head on, all so that he can eventually return home and be with his loved ones.

“I tell him every day, ‘You have to fight to come home,’” said Rainey. “He wants to come home.”

Community sends letters of love and support to downtrodden resident