When Rachel Shapiro’s daughter suffered a severe stroke just before her second birthday, Rachel and her husband were told their child might not survive. Despite the devastating prognosis, they refused to give up, navigating a complex medical journey that transformed their family's life. Their daughter now lives with significant medical needs, requiring a tracheostomy and ventilator support, which initially seemed overwhelming to Rachel.

What makes Rachel's story remarkable is her determination to maintain a full, vibrant life despite the intense caregiving responsibilities. Working full-time in marketing while managing her daughter's complex medical care, she and her husband have intentionally preserved their family's sense of normalcy. They continue to be active in their community, host events, and ensure their other children feel supported and engaged. Rachel's approach is characterized by a deep faith and a belief that their current circumstances serve a greater purpose.

Her perspective on caregiving is both practical and inspirational. Rachel approaches challenges with low expectations and a remarkable ability to adapt, viewing unexpected changes as opportunities rather than obstacles. She emphasizes the importance of open communication with her spouse, maintaining their relationship through shared goals, and making time for self-care, such as occasional shopping trips or simply enjoying a quiet meal. Her story illustrates that while caregiving can be incredibly demanding, it doesn't have to consume or define one's entire existence.

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Learn more about Confessions of a Reluctant Caregiver: https://www.confessionsofareluctantcaregiver.com/

** Caregiver Action Network Caregiver Help Desk offers free support to family caregivers via phone, chat, or email Monday through Friday, 8:00 am - 7:00 pm Eastern. Get answers, resources, support group info, or a listening ear. Visit www.caregiveraction.org/helpdesk/ or call 855-277-3640.**

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Stacy Ryan’s powerful story is a testament to love, resilience, and the human capacity to heal after profound loss. Her journey began with her own cancer diagnosis at 45, which she survived, followed by her husband John’s battle with cancer that ultimately claimed his life in December 2020. Throughout their cancer journey, they demonstrated an extraordinary partnership, supporting each other with deep love and commitment, facing each challenge together with grace and vulnerability. 

After losing John, Stacy chose to honor his wishes by living her life to the fullest. She channeled her grief into creative pursuits, writing a three-book series about her experiences and launching a podcast focused on her journey through widowhood. Her commitment to healing and personal growth led her to unexpected places, including finding love again with another widower named John, with whom she is now building a new life. In a beautiful tribute to her resilience, she is also preparing to open a yoga and wellness studio in the fall, continuing to pursue her passions and create meaning from her experiences. 

What makes Stacy’s story particularly inspiring is her approach to grief and the healing process. She refused to be defined by her loss, instead choosing to embrace joy, laughter, and new opportunities. Her message is clear: there is no single path through grief, and it’s possible to honor past love while creating space for new love and experiences. Her journey demonstrates that life can be “brutally beautiful”—filled with profound pain, yet also incredible hope and renewal.

About Stacy:

Stacy Ryan embodies resilience, completing an Ironman at 36, surviving cancer at 45, and navigating widowhood at 52. These experiences fuel her work as a self-published author and podcaster, where she shares her journey of life, love, and loss, aiming to help others on similar paths. Her diverse career, from corporate HR to fitness director, laid the foundation for her current endeavors. Her podcast, "My Whole New Life," launched in 2023, followed by her "Whole New Life" three-book series in 2024. Stacy finds joy in motivating others to pursue what resonates with them, whether it's achieving a fitness goal or writing a book, reflecting her belief that anything is possible. Outside of work, she enjoys cycling, yoga, and time with friends and family, creating lasting memories.

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Learn more about Confessions of a Reluctant Caregiver: https://www.confessionsofareluctantcaregiver.com/

** Caregiver Action Network Caregiver Help Desk offers free support to family caregivers via phone, chat, or email Monday through Friday, 8:00 am - 7:00

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This week, Ari Medrano delivers a powerful testament to the depth and complexity of caregiving. As a Mexican immigrant who came to the United States at age one, Ari's approach to caregiving is deeply rooted in her family's values of service, love, and compassion. Throughout the episode, she shares multiple experiences of caregiving, including caring for her cousin with bone cancer, a homeless woman named Teresa, her brother who was a victim of a violent crime, and her mother during critical health challenges.

Her caregiving journey is marked by a remarkable ability to love creatively and find joy even in the most challenging circumstances. Ari's approach goes beyond traditional caregiving, incorporating humor, sensory experiences (such as using specific scents to uplift spirits), and an unwavering commitment to supporting not only the patient but also the healthcare workers around them. Her personal experiences, including her health challenges like heart disease and a brain tumor, have shaped her perspective, allowing her to approach caregiving with empathy, resilience, and a profound understanding of both giving and receiving care.

What stands out most about Ari is her philosophy of "givers gain" and her conviction that we can experience both pain and joy simultaneously. Her stories illustrate how caregiving is not just a duty, but a calling that requires creativity, emotional intelligence, and a deep capacity for love. Whether it was bringing Santa Claus to her mother's hospital room, providing comfort to a homeless woman, or supporting her brother through his challenging health journey, Ari embodies the true spirit of compassionate caregiving.

About Ari:

Ari Medrano is a Mexican immigrant who arrived in the USA as a one-year-old, the middle child in a family of five. Her parents have been married for 58 years. Ari's caregiving journey deepened when she moved from Texas to California to care for her mother and youngest brother, who both became ill simultaneously. She provided home hospice care for her brother in his final weeks, following his brutal injuries from a bank robbery. Concurrently, she cared for her mother in the hospital for six months; her mother is now at home, receiving care from all siblings.

As a mother of two sons, Ari also acknowledges their caregiving role during her own extensive health battles, which included multiple tumors, heart disease, a brain tumor, and numerous surgeries. She refers to herself as an "Olympian patient" and serves as a go-to health advocate for her family, friends, and community. She is notably a "1% Medical Miracle" who regained full mobility after being paralyzed by a craniotomy for a brain tumor extraction. Ari's legacy is defined by her philosophy: "Love God, Love People...creatively."

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Julia Mayer, a clinical psychologist, shares her extensive caregiving journey spanning nine years, which involved caring for her father after her mother's unexpected passing and then supporting her husband Barry's mother, Jean, and stepfather, Steve. After her mother died during a heart surgery recovery, Julia and her siblings stepped in to care for their father, with her older brother taking the primary caregiver role while Julia provided weekend relief. Her father passed away about 15 months after her mother, and shortly after, they became involved in caring for Barry's parents, who were experiencing financial difficulties.

Julia and Barry relocated Jean and Steve from Florida to an apartment near them, managing their care through the use of aides, a notebook system, and personal visits. Despite Jean's combative nature and strained relationship with Barry, Julia approached caregiving with compassion, patience, and a sense of humor. Her professional background as a psychologist helped her maintain emotional distance and communicate effectively, often serving as a mediator between Jean and Barry. She focused on preserving her family relationships through open communication and involving her children in the caregiving process.

Throughout their caregiving experience, Julia and Barry collaborated closely, supporting each other emotionally and eventually turning their experiences into professional resources. They are set to publish "The Caregiver's Answer Book" with AARP in July 2025, providing comprehensive guidance for caregivers in various situations. Julia's approach to caregiving emphasizes three key principles: not taking the care recipient's suffering personally, maintaining empathy and compassion, and seeking support for oneself during the challenging caregiving journey.

Social Media

Facebook: @Julia Mayer 

X: @JuliaLMayer23

Instagram: Julmayer23

LinkedIn: @Julie Mayer

Website: www.loveandmeaning.com

About Julia:

Julia L. Mayer, Psy.D is a clinical psychologist in private practice in Media, PA. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania and her doctorate in clinical psychology from Widener University. Prior to becoming a psychologist, she wrote plays and interned as an assistant to the director for a theater company in New York. She has published professionally in the APA journal, Families, Systems & Health. She also co-authored various articles with her husband, Barry J. Jacobs, Psy.D., for WebMD and HealthCentral. She has been doing individual and marital therapy for 31 years, specializing in working with women who have histories of sexual trauma, eating disorders and troubled marriages. She has increasingly focused her work on supporting caregivers. Since 2018, she has been doing a weekly podcast about psychology and social justice, called Shrinks on Third. For nine years, she was a caregiver for her father with vascular dementia and

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"I became a forever parent caregiver." - Jesse Ronne

What happens when caregiving, loss, and love collide? Jess Ronnie, writer, speaker, podcaster, and founder of The Lucas Project, brings her powerful story to the mic, offering a moving look into parenting a child with special needs, enduring grief, and building a future rooted in compassion and advocacy.

Jess opens up about the emotional and physical toll of raising her son Lucas, who has profound special needs, while managing life as a "forever caregiver" and navigating the heartbreak of losing her husband, Jason. She shares the raw realities of caregiving, the denial that can come with special needs diagnoses, and the heavy yet hopeful journey toward acceptance, remarriage, and healing.

This episode is a powerful reminder that caregivers are not alone. Jess discusses:

• Surviving as a parent in crisis mode
• Rebuilding identity after caregiving takes over
• Balancing love and loss in blended families
• The critical importance of support systems and community
• How her nonprofit, The Lucas Project, is creating change for caregivers across the country

About Jesse:

Jess Ronne is an author, speaker, podcast host at Coffee with Caregivers, associate producer of the Unseen Documentary, and caregiver advocate. She is founder and executive director of The Lucas Project, a non-profit dedicated to providing recognition, resources and respite support for special needs families. She and her husband Ryan live in Michigan with their 8 children, including their son Lucas who has profound disabilities. Her story of beauty from ashes has been shared on The Today Show, Daily Mail and Huffington Post and is detailed in her memoir Sunlight Burning at Midnight. To follow the ongoing saga she can be found at www.jessplusthemess.com or purchase her latest books Blended with Grit & Grace, Lovin’ with Grit & Grace, and Caregiving with Grit & Grace.

Social Media

Facebook: www.facebook.com/jessronneofficial

Website: www.caregiverdoc.com

Website: www.thelucasproject.org

Website: www.jessronne.com

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Learn more about Confessions of a Reluctant Caregiver

** Caregiver Action Network Caregiver Help Desk offers free support to family caregivers via phone, chat, or email Monday through Friday, 8:00 am - 7:00 pm Eastern. Get answers

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"I felt this sense of odd FOMO." - Taylor Fix

Meet Taylor Fix, a remarkable caregiver whose journey began in childhood. Growing up in a close-knit family, caregiving was second nature. But it wasn’t until she became a farmhand and full-time caregiver for Bill, an elderly man she bonded deeply with, that Taylor truly stepped into her calling.

💬 Join us as Taylor opens up about:

• Becoming a youth caregiver and how it shaped her identity
• The emotional and mental toll of caregiving
• Navigating family dynamics and communication challenges
• The importance of self-care and support systems
• Why many caregivers struggle to identify with the label "caregiver"

About Taylor:

Taylor lives on a small Virginia farmstead with her partner, dog, and a lively mix of animals—some for food, all for love. A self-proclaimed “Jane of all trades,” she holds a degree in Animal and Poultry Science from Virginia Tech, with minors in Political Science and AgBusiness, plus a stack of certificates “as long as a CVS receipt.” With a lifelong passion for agriculture, Taylor has worked across farming, advocacy, and mental health support—drawing on her deep connection with animals to help others. She serves on multiple boards dedicated to mental health and community service, living out her calling one story (and adventure) at a time.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating the world of family caregiving, supporting aging loved ones, or looking for honest conversations about the reluctance, resilience, and reality behind caregiving.

Social Media:
Instagram: Instagram: RockBottomAcres/ruminations_rba
VPAS Website: vpas.info

Thank you to our sponsor: CareScout

Learn more about Confessions of a Reluctant Caregiver

** Caregiver Action Network Caregiver Help Desk offers free support to family caregivers via phone, chat, or email Monday through Friday, 8:00 am - 7:00 pm Eastern. Get answers, resources, support group info, or a listening ear. Visit www.caregiveraction.org/helpdesk/ or call 855-277-3640.**

🔔 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share for more real stories from the frontlines of caregiving.

#CaregiverSupport #FamilyCaregiving #MentalHealth #ReluctantCaregiver #CaregiverJourney #Podcast #AgingParents #EmotionalHealth #SelfCareForCareg

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"You don't know what you don't know." - Dave Krikac

What happens when love meets lifelong responsibility?  The realities of caregiving for individuals with special needs, the triumphs, the trials, and the transformative love it takes to show up every day can be daunting.. Meet Dave Krikac, a devoted father raising his daughter with autism, as he shares the raw and inspiring story of his caregiving journey.

🎙️ Alongside our hosts, Dave explores critical topics that every caregiver should know:

• Building a strong support system and community
• Advocating in special needs education
• Managing evolving family dynamics
• Planning for the future with special needs trusts
• Navigating the complex transition to adulthood
• Leveraging technology and AI, including Stella—an innovative concierge tool for families
  
  

👤 About Dave Krikac:

Dave Krikac is a seasoned business leader, advocate, and father with over 35 years of experience in IT, sales, and marketing. As Vice President at Health Connect America, and co-founder of The G.E.A.R. Foundation and Our Thrift Store, he’s dedicated his career to creating meaningful job opportunities for adults with special needs. From church planting to nonprofit leadership, Dave’s mission is clear: championing independence, inclusion, and dignity through employment.

Website:

www.askstellanow.org

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👨‍👩‍👧 This conversation offers practical insights, emotional validation, and forward-thinking solutions to help you support the special needs community with empathy and strength.

** Caregiver Action Network Caregiver Help Desk offers free support to family caregivers via phone, chat, or email Monday through Friday, 8:00 am - 7:00 pm Eastern. Get answers, resources, support group info, or a listening ear. Visit www.caregiveraction.org/helpdesk/ or call 855-277-3640.**

✨ Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more real-talk episodes on caregiving, advocacy, and innovation in the special needs space.

#CaregivingJourney #SpecialNeedsParenting #AutismAwareness #SpecialNeedsTrust #DisabilityAdvocacy #CommunitySupport #AIForGood #CaregiverLife #StellaAI #FutureOfCaregiving

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"I am sunny with a chance of tornadoes." - Yvette LeFlore

🎧 Intuitive energy healer Yvette LaFleur opens up about her deeply personal caregiving journey through love, loss, and healing. As the caregiver for her late husband Walter, who bravely battled stage four lung cancer, Yvette shares profound lessons on self-care, anticipatory grief, surrendering control, and honoring the wishes of a loved one.

Natalie and JJ explore with Yvette:

• 💔 The emotional toll of caregiving for someone with a terminal illness
• 🧘‍♀️ The importance of maintaining identity and practicing self-care
• 🙏 Letting go of control and accepting help from others
• 😢 Navigating grief, loss, and life after caregiving
• ❤️‍🔥 Finding humor, strength, and spiritual growth through adversity

About Yvette:

Yvette LeFlore is an Intuitive Energy Healer and Reiki Master Teacher. Before opening her energy healing business, Yvette led a team for a popular direct sales company; she was also a teacher in prisons and drug rehabilitation centers. Over a decade ago, she found the benefit of energy healing for herself and others. When she was dating, she intended that the man she next met would be open to energy and healing work. Enter Walter. The man who not only understood and worked with energy but also supported her in building her business and leaving her 29-year career with the direct sales company. As you will hear, Walter now joins her from the spirit world in her energy healing sessions.

Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/healingwithyvette

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yvette-leflore-9683336/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/healingwithyvette

Website: www.healingwithyvette.com

Are you a caregiver, or grieving a loss, or seeking emotional and spiritual insight? This heartfelt conversation offers comfort, wisdom, and connection. 

THANK YOU to SPONSOR: CareScout

** Caregiver Action Network Caregiver Help Desk offers free support to family caregivers via phone, chat, or email Monday through Friday, 8:00 am - 7:00 pm Eastern. Get answers, resources, support group info, or a listening ear. Visit www.caregiveraction.org/helpdesk/ or call 855-277-3640.**

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“Caregiving never ends. No, it never stops.” - Natalie and JJ 

Caregiving is a journey—full of love, lessons, and let’s be honest, a few laughs along the way. In this candid conversation, we dive into the realities of caregiving: navigating skilled nursing facilities, managing emotional and financial stress, and finding strength in community. We’re also sharing what’s in store for 2025 and beyond. Too good to miss!

💡 This episode is a reminder that you’re not alone—and that support, humor, and honest conversations make all the difference.

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• Caregiving is tough—but also deeply rewarding.
• Teamwork and community support are everything.
• Humor helps lighten the load.
• Advocacy matters—so do financial tools like qualified income trusts.
• Self-care isn’t optional.
• Your story matters—let’s share it.

THANK YOU to Sponsor: CareScout

** Caregiver Action Network Caregiver Help Desk offers free support to family caregivers via phone, chat, or email Monday through Friday, 8:00 am - 7:00 pm Eastern. Get answers, resources, support group info, or a listening ear. Visit www.caregiveraction.org/helpdesk/ or call 855-277-3640.**

#Caregiving #CaregiverSupport #AgingParents #SkilledNursing #ElderCare #FamilyCaregivers #HealthcareAdvocacy #SelfCare #QualifiedIncomeTrust #HumorHeals

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“I was in therapy, that was a lifeline.” - Allyson Schrier

This is a powerful one! Natalie and JJ sit down with Allyson Schrier as she opens up about her deeply personal and emotional journey caring for her husband, who was diagnosed with Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD).

Allison candidly shares the early signs of FTD, the heartbreaking misdiagnosis, and the uphill battle of navigating a complex healthcare system. From the shifting family dynamics to the emotional weight of caregiving, this conversation pulls back the curtain on what it really means to care for a loved one with dementia.

🌼 Key Takeaways:

• Recognizing early behavioral changes in FTD
• Coping with misdiagnosis and delayed answers
• The emotional toll and resilience required of caregivers
• The importance of self-care and community support
• How Zinnia TV is transforming dementia care through thoughtful, therapeutic content
  
  

About Allyson:

Allyson Schrier, co-founder and President of ZinniaTV was a caregiver for her husband with dementia, who turned that experience into a career focused on helping both people with dementia and those who care for them. Allyson became a dementia educator teaching both family and professional caregivers about best practices around supporting people with dementia. Following that, Allyson helped launch, then managed an education program at the University of Washington to equip primary and allied healthcare providers to better diagnose and support patients living with dementia. Allyson was honored to be a recipient of a 2020 Maude’s Awards for Innovation in Alzheimer’s Care, and was named Visionary Caregiver of 2020 by caregiving.com. She sits on the Health and Medical subcommittee of the Washington State Dementia Action Collaborative, facilitates support groups for spouses of people with dementia, and lectures on topics about dementia caregiving.

Social Media:

Instagram: Al.lyson80 

Instagram: zinnia_tv

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/avschrier/

Website: www.zinniatv.com

Allison’s story offers both inspiration and practical wisdom for professionals, family members and friends alike

THANK YOU to SPONSOR: CareScout

** Caregiver Action Network Caregiver Help Desk offers free support to family caregivers via phone, chat, or email Monday through Friday, 8:00 am - 7:00 pm Eastern. Get answers, resources, support group info, or a listening ear. Visit

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