Keziah M.

My caregiving experience began with the birth of my first child. Beyond the expected hurdles of parenthood, there were years of weekly specialist appointments, daily nebulizer treatments, physical therapy, and a great deal of research. I was grateful to encounter many doctors and nurses willing to explain their work and answer my questions. As family members and friends encountered health problems, I became counsel and occasional medic. When loved ones, mine and those of others, have had extended hospital stays and long recoveries, my support has often been requested. When extended stays have brought those affected to sit with mortality, I have sat and faced it with them.

My husband of 22 years of marriage passed away July 2021. I spent the last 10 years of our marriage being his primary caregiver. He had congestive heart failure and an inistitial lung disease. He had hospice care at home during the last 2 months of his life which I was also his primary caregiver. Part of my daily care for him was meal prep, bathing him, helping him with using the bathroom and dressing him. Keeping a log of his daily medicine intake and keeping the home clean and changing his bed linen on a weekly basis or more if needed. Provided transportation to and from doctors office and grocery shopping. I read to him and had conversations with him on topics of discussion that he liked. We played board games and card games, puzzles and word finders. Taking care of my husband helped me see the need for others. Now that he has passed away, I can give back to others the special care and love I gave to him. I am very proud that I was able to take care of my husband in his last years. He was very proud to have me as his caregiver, the best caregiver for him. I love people. I am compassionate, kind and patient and love to smile. I want to give back to others the beautiful experience I have had in taking care of my husband. It brings great joy to me when I smile and others smile back at me. I truly believe that people are a gift from God. Kindness can lift any spirit and a smile is very contagious.