Hello, I’m taking over for Sara.

My name is Michele.  My mother-in-law lived with us for 13 years, the last 8 years, I was her full-time caregiver.  I was fortunate enough not to have to deal with the emotional trauma of Alzheimer’s disease.  My mother-in-law had a great fear of doctors, and as a result had an advanced case of diabetes by the time I could finally get her to even agree to go to the eye doctor.  Neglecting her diabetes for so long ravaged her body, resulted in blindness, end stage renal (kidney) failure.  She died a few years back.  So while I am not currently in the role of a caregiver, I lived through it, I survived to tell my story!  I have a supportive family and a number of friends that I consider blessings in my life.  Still, there were times I felt very alone in processing my varied emotions.  When others would see how much of my life needed to be devoted to the care of my mother-in-law, despite having two teenaged sons at home, I would often hear, ”I could never do that.”  I firmly believe that you do what you have to do, when you have to do it!  (Say that 3 times fast!)  For many years I naively thought anyone could be a caregiver, it was just a matter of stepping up to the plate.  I no longer believe that.  That is my brief introduction.  Looking forward to an interchange….

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