Irina G.

I became a caregiver at the tender age of fourteen when a good friend of my family needed assistance in her every day activities which had included assistance in using a mechanical lift in the morning to get out of bed and into her wheelchair. She was able to do fine in the kitchen to prepare meals for herself and so on but needed assistance in toileting and bathing. I would be there several hours in the morning and also several hours in the evening and repeat everyday of the week. It was a great learning experience for me to know that by helping someone with their everyday routine I could help change the outcome of their lives. She was one terrific lady who I miss to this day, she had taught me the value of life and the everyday things that so many of us take for granted. I also became aware of how much I enjoy helping people. I, myself, come from a very large family and my parents had always taught all of us children the importance of helping the ones a bit less fortunate than ourselves, I love coming into work knowing that today might be the day I might change someone's outlook on life, that today will possibly be a brighter day for that gentle woman and/or gentleman and that I might be that person that helped them achieve that extra step in their physical therapy or that simple smile or that extra bite of food that they couldn't have eaten the day before, whatever it is that helps my clients be happy it is very important to me that I helped in one way or another.