In honor of National Family Caregiver Month, a caregiver shares what it means to be a caregiver to her husband who is living with NET.
"Someone you love is ill and is in need
It’s a journey of mostly necessity not choice
It’s walking beside, behind and ahead and changing directions frequently
It’s keeping a smile while hiding a tear
Holding your fear in check
Giving patience when frustration rises
Being a receiver of their frustration
Finding ways to direct my anger and theirs
Taking on chores that were once theirs or shared
Advocating for them even when they don’t think they need an advocate
Making plans, changing plans, and changing plans
Having difficult conversations about the future, including end-of-life
Finding the balance between gentle reminders and nagging
Looking for the bright side in all of this and rejoicing when you find the light even if only for a brief time
Reminding yourself this is not the journey they chose to be on either
Watching your loved one be so vulnerable
Realizing there will be times when we are sharing a view from the mountain top, but somedays we will be in the valley and other days we might be coasting down the calm waters. Somedays our views will not be the same and that will be okay too
I do not have to do this alone
It’s knowing when the caregiving ends, I will have lost the one I love"
Written by Beth Voyles
A NET Caregiver & NETCONNECT Mentor