Caregiving Story

My mother passed away at a very young age, 38, and it left my older brother (who has since passed away,) my sister, and my baby brother. After my mom passed away, I lost my grandmother to an aneurysm. After my grandmothers funeral about a month later, I learned that my sister (who is younger than me) also had one.

I work as a certified nurse's assistant and have been for the past 15 years. When my sister had her aneurysm, she was left in a coma and on a ventilator and on a g-tube feeding. During the time all of this was going on, I still had to work as a caregiver and had all of my bills to pay and take care of my own son. Driving back and forth from where I live to Northwestern hospital in Chicago was overwhelming.

My sister spent about 6 years in a nursing facility in the far south suburbs of Chicago and I would go almost on a daily basis to visit her. I wanted her to come home, but the doctor had not released her. She had also suffered a stroke besides everything else that she was going through.

When my sister finally did get a chance to come home, I put my life on hold for her. My son is in his last year of college and my daughter is on her way in another year, but the love that I have for my sister made me realize that it is not all bout me. I did not want to see her in a nursing home for the rest of her life, so I did what a sister would do--I brought her to my home.

I have had my sister home with me for the past 4 years and I must say I have enjoyed having her around. She smiles and sings and tell me on a daily basis that she loves me. Even though I am almost done raising my kids, "you never are finished." I could have easily left her in a nursing home and don't get me wrong, my heart goes out to the ones who can't bring their loved ones home, but I feel as though I am meant to care for others. I now understand that this all is in God's plan.

It is not easy, but it is what it is. Life throws all of us some fast balls, but we can dodge them or catch them and throw them back. I am forever grateful to God for giving me a caring heart through the good and the bad times. I still work as a certified nurse's assistant and yes, my job can sometimes be overwhelming, but I know when i leave my job and come home at the end of the day, I have helped someone. And when I come home I am still helping someone. Wow, I just really never realized how big our hearts are when we give of ourselves and I pray that someone will take care of me when I need it. But now, for the time being, I just want to be able to take care, because that is where my heart is.