Q&A
I thoroughly enjoyed reading your book, "The Gifts of Caregiving: Stories of Hardship, Hope, and Healing"
I thoroughly enjoyed reading your book, "The Gifts of Caregiving: Stories of Hardship, Hope, and Healing" and listening to the accompanying CD, "Hardship into Hope: The Rewards of Caregiving." During your career as a public radio producer, writer, and speaker, you have interviewed countless well-known personalities and celebrities and have shared their stories with us through your wonderful books. Each person's story is unique and inspiring. Is there any one person you interviewed whose story or heartfelt experiences stood out and touched you more so than others?
Yes, I have had the pleasure of meeting and interviewing many well known personalities in my radio work and for my writing. You mentioned my public radio program and my book, "The Gifts of Caregiving" which I appreciate. I sincerely believe that family caregivers get support, comfort and inspiration from hear the stories of other caregivers. Their stories touch us all as former first lady Rosalynn Carter has said, "there are only four kinds of people in this world: those who have been caregivers, those who currently are caregivers, those who will be caregivers, and those who will need caregivers. That pretty much covers all of us."
The late Dana Reeve became the primary caregiver for her husband, Christopher Reeve, who suffered a paralyzing spinal cord injury when he was thrown from his horse. People sometimes have the idea that celebrities say something different from us ordinary folks. However, in the caregiver role the stresses, challenges, and pressures aren't different from the realizations and insights available to all of us.
Dana Reeve, like the rest of us, soon realized that she couldn't do everything alone in the care and arrangements and appointments that were needed. Some caregivers suffer exhaustion, become ill and "burn out" before they ask for help. She also talked of keeping her husband in the family circle by having family dinners in the bedroom so they could share at mealtime and slowing up the pace of an outing to a museum or a walk in the park. Sometimes in getting the practical things done we ignore the personal connection with those being cared for.
Accepting the change of pace and learning to be comfortable with it offered Dana Reeve a new perspective. In her words, "I think through being a caregiver I've really grown. I'm not sure I would have ever known these. We have a tremendous amount of joy in our family, a tremendous amount of laughter. We're all so grateful for a beautiful day, so grateful for sunshine. There are real gifts that come along with the hardships."
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