Serving as a family caregiver, whether during a health crisis or chronic illness, is a noble, honorable and magnificent act of love. But caregiving can also be relentless, isolating and sometimes scary to have so much responsibility. At CaringBridge, we honor the selflessness of caregiving, and the parents, spouses, siblings, adult children and dear friends thrust into the role, often without warning, when life turns on a dime.
We’ve all been in this situation before: A loved one is struggling with illness or grief, and we completely fumble for the right words to say, or possibly say nothing at all. It can be disorienting to watch someone you love go through hardship. No one wants to say anything that will make their pain… Read More
It’s been said that when an old person dies, a library burns to the ground. Their treasure-trove of memories, life experiences and teachable moments is lost forever. But recent findings reveal that allowing people with memory loss to talk about their lives and encouraging them to tell their personal stories contributes to their well-being. Surprisingly,… Read More
Brittany Richards, right, said that support remains extremely important as her Mom, Christine, heals after stroke. Brittany stands next to her brother, Dusty. Her Dad, Loren, is at left. A single event can change the course of your life and you may never see it coming. On April 4, 2014, just three days after her… Read More
CaringBridge users confirm what Ryan O’Neal said to Ali MacGraw all those years ago: “Love means never having to say you’re sorry.” (Readers born after 1970 can catch “Love Story” on Netflix.) While it’s a reflex to respond to news of a cancer diagnosis, stroke, illness, injury or any health crisis with an automatic, “I’m… Read More
Since Sona Mehring’s journey with CaringBridge began in 1997, our founder has come to believe that no one should be left wondering whether their life has mattered. Driving home to the Twin Cities from Milwaukee after a recent visit with my son and daughter-in-law, I soaked up the pleasure of uninterrupted podcasts. One of my… Read More
In 1998, my mother Bonnie was diagnosed with Stage IV breast cancer, and in 2001 she was stricken with liver cancer. As a nurse, my mother was the one providing care for others. She was even a caregiver for her mother, my Grandma Bessie, before she passed away in 1997 at the age of 94…. Read More