caregivers are the unsung heroes of healthcare, offering compassion, strength, and unwavering support to those in need. their stories inspire us with their resilience, love, and dedication. here are healthing’s favourite caregiver stories of 2024.
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angelica bottaro
how i care for alzheimer’s disease: ‘give yourself some grace and … find moments of joy because they’re there’
kim’s experience with her mother, ruth, spoke to me in a visceral way because it highlighted the deep and unwavering effects alzheimer’s has on those who develop it and their loved ones. i’ve always believed that alzheimer’s is one of the worst things that can happen to a person, and learning more about kim and ruth’s experience solidified my opinion of that. their story is a true testament to how important it is to continue research in the dementia space to find better therapies, as well as the selflessness and humanity in people of the world that is often missed due to news cycles focusing on mostly horrific or terrible events.
how i care for melanoma: coping through lifelong love and unwavering faith
this is an article centred on the caregiving experience of iona copeman, whose husband was diagnosed with melanoma. this portion of their story is important to me because it shows how powerful a lifetime of love for one another can help people get through the darkest days of their lives. iona’s dedication to ensuring her husband was well cared for during the ordeal while putting her own needs aside spoke to how i am with loved ones and how important it is to be a pillar for those who need you most, knowing that even if it leads to sacrifice, the positive outcome is always worth it. her husband had also messaged me afterward to tell me that he had no idea the extent his wife went to make sure he was okay, and knowing that something i did helped them get closer makes me feel like i’ve done something worth doing.
3 minute read
