Caregiving Story

Back in 1997, my always healthy grandmother suddenly had a massive heart attack and stroke. We were so used to my grandfather being the sick one with his heart disease that we were surprised. All our focus had to shift to her. She was in a very bad state. She went from cleaning and cooking and taking care of a household and her family, to being completely unable to care for herself in any way in a matter of minutes. She couldn't do a single thing to care for herself. She didn't eat, lost most of her vision, couldn't walk, could talk but wasn't very aware of who anyone was ever again. We tried to take her home and care for her ourselves but she required too much total care.

It was so devastating to my grandfather, who was used to being the one so dependent on her that he talked one day of killing them both. He didn't know how to live without her. We had to put her back in a nursing home where she lived for 4 years. Unfortunately, she was pretty far gone. It broke our hearts to leave her there. We had to move back to Colorado. After that, God gave me such a huge passion for the elderly that I feel that that is my calling. I am still seeking a full time career in that field and currently trying to get my CNA AND MA.