How did your life change when you became a caregiver?

After my husband’s accident, I originally took time off under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) while we tried to get a grasp on the direction life had taken for us. When I realized the amount of care my husband would need once he returned home, and with a young child and a new baby on the way, I realized that even going back part-time wasn’t an option at that place in time. Adjustments on our farm had to be made—animals sold—to reduce the financial and physical constraints that come with being a full-time caregiver to my husband and two children.

What resources or support networks do you utilize?

I am eternally thankful to the amazing support network that we have from my husband’s former unit.  The amount of help they have provided from rides, to work on the farm, to taking him on trips, is nothing short of amazing.  I have a wonderful amount of support from my parents, who live locally.  I couldn’t do all the things we do without them.  Lastly, I have a loyal, steadfast group of friends who are always there to lend support.

What have you learned about yourself through your role as a caregiver?

I have learned in my brief time as a caregiver that things will never be the same; they are constantly evolving. In moments when things feel really tough, I try to remind myself of that “this too, shall pass.”