Tracy R.

Public school classroom teacher; taught grades 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 7th, and 8th as well as Honors English courses. English Department Chair, National Honor Society Director, extenisve training and think-tank participation at Oakland Schools Intermediate School District

This was not a paid job but was a demanding experience for which I did use the Family Medical Leave Act to take time away from my teaching job in order to provide care. I was my mom's primary caregiver during her fight against ovarian cancer. I was an emotional support, attended all doctor appointments, was the note taker, brought along the questions she didn't want to forget to ask, organized vacations and positive experiences, attended chemo, researched, listened and allowed her to ultimatly make the decisons that were right for her, aided in post-op care, outfitted her home with adaptive features to make living independently possible, sent for welfare checks when I was too far away, held her hand through pain and emotional exhaustion. When she was no longer able to make her own medical decisions, I honored her wishes and terminated chemo therapy in exchange for palative care and eventually hospice. I was my mom's primary caregiver but I have an unusually high number of family members who have battled cancer and in one way or another I have been involved, from being the driver to the ER with the list of meds and doctors, to the home assistant helping with drain tubes after a mastectomy. I have more than my share of layperson experience in assisting with oncology patients.

This was one of my favorite jobs. I started volunteering here in college and continued on as an employee for nearly 10 years. The Sterling Heights Special Recreation program was specifically designed for children and adults with special needs. Particpants had a range of physical and or cognitive disabilities, for example Cerebral Palsy, Autism, Downs Syndrome, seizure disorders, etc. As a facilitator I interacted with our particpants to ensure their safety, fun, and enrichment. We had programs like summer camp, softball leagues, sports clubs, cooking club, out-to-dinner night, Friday night dances, and the list goes on. We attended Detroit's pro sporting events, went to Detroit for theatre productions, took weekend trips to waterparks, Chicago, and more. This job taught me the most about caring for and adapting experiences to the medical and cognitive needs of people in my care.

During college I was contracted and trained by a company to provide in-home care for children with Autism. I worked at a summer camp for kids with Autism and then three different families over the course of my employment. I worked with families simultaneously. For the first family I provided in-home ABA therapy and recreation time for their son who was non-verbal and Autistic, for the second family I provided in-home care for their son who was non-verbal due to Autism and profound deafness, and for the third family I provided respite care for their son with severe Autism who I would take on outings and care for at home while they had one-on-one time with their neuro-typical son.