My boy has a staph infection. Undetermined source. Scary. Fever-inducing. Icky. Doctor monitored. Antibiotic drowned. But it’s OK. Because my boy is 17 and cancer free. As awful as a staph infection is now, it’s not what it used to be! When Andrew was four, we drove home from my high… Read more“A Staph Infection filled with Fear”
Truth and Grace: the Cornerstones of Surviving as a Caregiver
Cornerstones of Caregiving: Truth and Grace They say God provides grace for every moment of a caregiver’s journey. True. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy. Moments of doubt and frustration; Tired of wearing a happy-face-state-of-grace and tired of acting like the strong one who could shoulder the chemo and the… Read more“Truth and Grace: the Cornerstones of Surviving as a Caregiver”
The Dangers of Neglecting Self-Care for Caregivers
Neglecting Yourself Can Lead to Weight Gain I learned the lesson the hard way. When my husband had non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma with central nervous system involvement, I didn’t take care of myself. I spent all of my energies taking care of him, trying to keep up with my job, and parent… Read more“The Dangers of Neglecting Self-Care for Caregivers”
Find Valuable Resources at Caregiver Connections
Resources for Caregivers During Pedro’s battle with cancer I often felt clueless. For example, I didn’t know that hospitals made arrangements for air ambulances. I didn’t know that the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society gave grants to help family members travel. The one cancer caregiving resource that I knew about (Ronald… Read more“Find Valuable Resources at Caregiver Connections”
We Can All Agree that Caregiving is Tough
Maybe You’re a Caregiver and You Didn’t Even Realize it! We all might not agree on politics, religion, or even who should have won the Super Bowl. I think we can all agree that caregiving can wear a person down. But first of all, what defines a caregiver? Literally, ‘caregiver’… Read more“We Can All Agree that Caregiving is Tough”
The End of an Era and Making New Connections
An Ending… For over four years Blessed (but Stressed) has hosted the Inspire Me Monday linkup—sometimes other bloggers have acted as co-hosts, sometimes not. We’ve loved making connections with all of you! For the past two years, writers and readers have found community over at www.anitaojeda.com, as well. I started the… Read more“The End of an Era and Making New Connections”
Crutches for a Caregiver
Pudding. Dora the Explorer. Juice. Bambi. Burritos. Blankets. Chemo backpacks. The Lion King. Ice Cream. Crutches for a caregiver. Crutches I thought I would never use! But I used them for sure. I used them often. Did that make me a bad mother? I had always been a careful mother. … Read more“Crutches for a Caregiver”
Caregiver Loneliness Can Delay YOUR Recovery
Take a Peek at Caregiver Loneliness ICU minutes stretch like bubblegum—at some point, I know they’ll burst and slap more messiness into my life. I wait, lonely in the busiest place on the planet, for the nurses to allow me back into Pedro’s room. The tubes cascade out of his… Read more“Caregiver Loneliness Can Delay YOUR Recovery”
Join the Club – Three Easy Tips for Caregivers
It’s not an elite club. It’s not a desirable club. It comes with a very high membership fee. No one ever requests to join. But once you’ve been inducted into the club of Cancer Caregivers, you might as well participate fully. Even though it takes awhile for your head to… Read more“Join the Club – Three Easy Tips for Caregivers”
Why You Should Forget About New Year’s Resolutions
Kiss Resolutions Goodbye! For years I made New Year’s resolutions: lose weight, start an exercise program, have better health, give up chocolate, and myriad other impossible proclamations. While my husband recovered from his stem-cell transplant, I spent all of my spare time in bed. I felt grumpy and depressed and… Read more“Why You Should Forget About New Year’s Resolutions”
