How does what happened between Meir Katz and his father compare to what happened between Eliezer and his father (in the assigned pages)?

In Chapter Eight, Eliezer's father tells him he can no longer go on. He has lost the will to live; he's weak, sick and delirious. One of the reasons Eliezer is able to let go of his father is because of his interaction and understanding of Meir Katz.