Caregiver of the Month: June 2012

Submitted by Peggy L.

My sister-in-law, Barbara is definitely deserving of recognition as Caregiver of the Month. My brother Paul's health has rapidly declined within the past six-eight months and he is unable to do many, many things which he would like to do. Doctors, hospital stays, treatments and medical tests one-hour from home require many trips a week. Barbara has been, and continues to be, right by Paul's side, listening to the doctors, learning what she had to learn to help him with his daily needs. She has had to shoulder everything with his treatment, his day-to-day needs, the household needs, caring for her three grandchildren, staying active and involved with church, and maintaining the happy, lovely home that they have built over their 46-year marriage.

Paul's health has required many life-altering changes. She is a tiny, little thing and she has to put extra-powerful support socks on his feet/legs each morning to help with his circulation problems, then at night, remove those extra-powerful support socks. This is a very hard job and takes a huge amount of strength to do this correctly, and she does it. I don't know how she does it, but she does it. She is the caretaker, the homemaker, the chef, the chauffeur, the nurse, the wife, the partner, the listener, the comforter, the support system, the house manager, the mother, the grandmother, the friend, the church member, the sister-in-law—all wrapped up in one angel on earth. She is an amazing caretaker and is definitely deserving of this award.

To read about our previous winners, go to www.HealthyWomen.org/caregivingcontest.