Arizona Fundraiser to support financial needs of cancer caregivers

How cool is this. The Michael T Flynn Foundation is putting on a fundraiser to help those cancer caregivers who qualify with financial support. The Get in the Game Fundraiser will be held in Scottsdale, AZ on April 24. Check it out. For all of you caregivers that know that the financial toll is not always recognized should send a shout out to Diane Flynn for her empathy and support to those who have had to go through cancer with someone they love. As someone who cared for my aunt who lost her battle with breast cancer, I know that I spent quite a bit on my aunt’s need because I never wanted her to worry about something as trivial as money. So I probably put out $1000 or more just on her in the 8 months, not including my costs for gas, kennel, etc. I would do it again without any regrets. But there are many people that cannot absorb all that money. Hip Hip Hooray to Diane Flynn and the Michael T Flynn Foundation.

Reliving last year and missing my aunt

You can read all you want about caregiver stress. You can intellectually understand that you have had an episode of depression, gained weight, have increased fatigue, and your body was so depleted you had to have rotator cuff surgery. So what else could impact you from being a primary 24 hour caregiver? With the holidays coming, every night as I try to fall asleep, I think about where I was and what was happening with my aunt. This was close to the week where she had a breakdown and she and I decided it was time for 24 hour care other than us. She had 1 month or so of taking care of herself except for some medical care needed. Then our euphoria led us to let her go to long. She was rushed to emergency on my trip up to WA. She had delusions about what was happening in the hospital. She seemed defeated. It took all of my energy and love for her to bring up the 24 hour care. Her daughter did not agree. Thankfully, the doctor would not let her go without knowing she had trained care. I made sure that my cousin setup for one of those buttons and for 24 hour care. I left for Thanksgiving so the family could salvage whatever there was left of family time. Next week, would be the week I went up and did not leave until it was time to get pictures for the service. I feel haunted by those last months right now. I miss her. I can only imagine what it would be like to be a caregiver for longer than 8 months. I would recommend that anyone who has been a caregiver for any length of time for someone who died to get psychological help. I recommend that anyone who has been a caregiver get support because just the act of caregiving can compromise one’s health. Anyone else out there have similar experiences with thinking back to what you were doing this time while caregiving?