#70 I Had To Step Back From Everything

I am sharing a deeply personal update about stepping back from the show while caring for my mother, and what the lastyear has taught me about caregiving, grief, and acceptance.

This episode speaks to anyone living through the emotional, physical, and spiritual weight of long-term caregiving—especially when health changes happen slowly, then all atonce.

I am focused on one central message: if you are caring for a loved one, you are not alone, and what you are feeling is normal. I am also reflecting on the beginning of a new season for myself, with more conversations ahead about aging well, living on your values, and making room for your own life again.

Timestamps

(00:00) Why Kathleenstepped away and what this conversation is about
(01:09) The phone call that changed everything: her mother moving in
(02:05) Learning to live together again while adjusting to less privacy andindependence
(03:34) Becoming a caregiver and why support from friends matters
(04:56) A move to Aiken and the first signs that something was changing
(06:28) Her mother’s health decline and the first fall-risk concerns
(08:25) The emergency room visit that revealed pneumonia and heart failure
(10:16) Hospital stays, fluid buildup, and physical therapy
(11:15) The 911 call, disorientation, and the decision to move to rehab
(12:37) Myasthenia gravis, medication complications, and sudden loss ofmobility
(14:01) The emotional toll of caregiving and why it can be hard to talk about

Thank You for being a part of the Your Life Your Way Community!

Reach out with comments, questions. Please share thisepisode with a Caregiver you know.

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Kathleen @ kmyourlifeyourway@gmail.com Substack https://substack.com/@kmylyw

If your loved one has any form of memory loss, dementia and would like to reach out to Debbie Compton of the Purple Vine and author of the Caregiver’s Advocate (along with an for professional support and more information: https://thepurplevine.com/

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