Coping with the grief of a thousand tiny losses
When you or someone you know is suspected of having a rare cancer like myeloma, it is natural to prepare for the worst. You…
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The caregiver’s inevitable process of unlearning
I am learning to unlearn certain things. Throughout my life, I was taught that if you work hard, you will succeed. I was also taught…
When the family caregiver becomes the ‘care-getter’
Women often play the role of caregiver. When our loved ones are sick or hurting, we’re the ones ladling out chicken soup, whether it’s for…
For a myeloma caregiver, being seen is a gift
It happened at the drugstore. My shoulders were tight as I leaned against the counter. It was the fourth time that evening that I was…
When it comes to medical jargon, where’s my secret decoder ring?
I see a lot of jargon in my line of work. A big part of my job is helping reporters translate it into something our…
Learning to reframe the stories we tell ourselves as caregivers
As a caregiver to my mum, who has myeloma, I usually experience some moments of quietness. One of these moments might be when we’re…
Navigating a myeloma diagnosis in the land of ‘I don’t know’
I am a longtime journalist with a firm belief that knowledge is power. My life’s work has been to answer the who, what, where, when,…
How to offer caregivers help that actually helps
“Let me know if you need anything.” No matter how well-intentioned that statement sounds, I personally believe it’s the most useless thing someone can say…
When self-care feels like another thing on the to-do list
My therapist advised me to engage in more meditation. A friend sent me a link to a YouTube channel dedicated to yoga. In the waiting…
Feeling relieved, then guilty, when my mum falls asleep
The most peaceful part of my day starts around 10:36 p.m. That’s when my mother has taken her last pills, I’ve checked her vitals, and…
