Building a fortress of quiet: How I protect my energy as a caregiver
A caregiver’s energy is a rare currency. When we spend it, we’re not doing so in single, large transactions. Instead, we’re making thousands of tiny…
Columns
In the fight against myeloma, hope is my superpower
In my first column, I wrote about how my myeloma diagnosis put me in a place I call the land of “I Don’t…
Finding grace on the bad days of myeloma caregiving
As I write this, yesterday was Tuesday. Perhaps it was a great day for someone who got a promotion or received a gift. But for…
Becoming a caregiver meant adopting a new vocabulary
Ever since my mum was diagnosed with myeloma, I’ve had to rewrite my vocabulary. My days are no longer filled with deadlines and projects,…
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…
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…
