Samantha Damm Redefining Caregiving

Welcome to my CaringBridge website. I am using this page to share decades of moments and memories shared with people in my life, as I grew into my role, as caregiver. I was introduced to caregiving at age 14 when my step-father became disabled needing care and my mother needed help. She turned to me for back up care and support at since it was 1981, the internet wasn't born and people turned to who they knew for support. Mom's list of family and friends was small. 


The first lesson I learned in caregiving is that people tend to avoid helping. The people you assume would be the first to reach out and assist are not who actually will. Close family and friends will abandon caregivers, and it feels like betrayal to them. It happened with my mom, as I was the only person who stuck around for her. It happened to me, with my mom, when she needed care following her devastating diagnosis of early onset dementia at age 59.  Nobody helped me, even though I wasn't in any position to be taking on the role as her caregiver. Later I realized this is common. I can't imagine being the type of person who knows someone with a disability and having the ability to turn a blind eye toward them.  I have seen it so often, I started to wonder what makes people leave and ignore the suffering of people in their lives. I understand people more and it comes down to basic personality types and how you are raised. 


My story is unique and since I am an intuitive, highly sensitive empathetic person, my version will seem more dramatic than most.  I seem to be a magnet for tough times, and I feel it's designed that way for me to continue my growth into a complex and useful person to help others in this life. Many people who have seen what I've experienced at different times in life, have told me to write a book. I did write a short guide for caregivers to introduce myself and give beginning caregivers an organized place to start. My next book will be filled with more stories and creative ideas I've developed to make caregiving easier.  I am disabled myself, so this is my way of helping differently than I used to with hands on care. I have transitioned into a teacher for caregivers after my life of home care work. 


Caregivers experience life in a way like no other. They see things from a differently in the world because they view it from a position of discomfort and inability for adjustments. The world is just becoming a place where people with disabilities can manage and maneuver themselves in it, so they can be productive, comfortable and safe.  I want to be someone who helps propel the process of making our world naturally fitting for people who do things differently than the majority of people. We all have the right to live a happy life and the world should welcome everyone equally.  


I am using this space to keep family and friends updated in one place. I appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement. Thank you for visiting.

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