Caring Conversations Brenda Blais Nesbitt

Sarah Trott joins Brenda for the final episode of the season to help reflect on the lessons our incredible guests have shared with us. Brenda takes us on one final journey of what infancy to adulthood is like for those caring for children with disabilities and complex needs. Caregiving for children can be some of the lengthiest caregiving journeys out there and these caregivers protect, advocate, teach, embrace and celebrate like no other! Heartfelt thanks go out to all of our guests for being so open and sharing their stories with us this season. A special thank you to all of our listeners as well. We greatly appreciate all your likes, ratings and shares!

In the previous Caring Conversations episode, guest Mike George talked about what happens when it's not an option for an adult child with complex medical needs to move out of the home. On this episode, Brenda is joined by Anita Scott whose adult daughter with very complex needs is now living in her own home with full support. Find out how this arrangement has worked for Anita and her daughter, Madison. Anita also shares the shocking details of how Madison developed her disability. Listen and be inspired by how Anita finds room for gratitude in her life. She also offers a refreshing perspective on how things can actually go "right" for a change! You can reach Anita through Facebook and Instagram at @anitaterpstrascott.

Children grow up to eventually become independent, move out and lead their own lives. What happens when your adult child doesn't have the ability to do those things? How do their parents navigate their care for the rest of their lives? What happens if they are still caring for their adult child into their 50s and 60s, or even their 70s and 80s? What happens if one, or worse, both of the parents become ill and require care themselves? The options are limited. Some have no choice but to move their children to assisted living, if they can last through the lengthy wait lists. Others, like Mike George and his wife Jan, asked themselves those questions, navigated an illness among one of them and became proactive about creating a plan and a team to support their son at home for the rest of his life. Now, they share that plan with other caregivers in similar circumstances through their program "Soaring Families". Listen to learn more!


Mike's Email: mike@soaringfamilies.com


Website: soaringfamilies.com; LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeg-bmg/


Book: Third Time Lucky: How Ben Shows Us the Way

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a 'bug on a wall' during a conversation between two caregivers who have adult children with medical complexities? Join Brenda and Donna Thomson as they share stories and discuss the world of caring for adult children transitioning out of the pediatric world. We also discuss how often caregivers' fears and worries can be misunderstood or misinterpreted by health professionals and one thing that they can do to help us during traumatic experiences. The insights that both Donna and Brenda share about caring for and advocating for their adult children can be applied to any caregiving situation.


Donna's Blog: "The Caregiver's Living Room"


LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donna4walls/


Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/donnathomsonauthor


Twitter: https://twitter.com/Thomsod (@thomsod)


Books: The Four Walls of My Freedom and The Unexpected Journey of Caregiving (with Dr. Zachary White)


Nicholas' Blog: "The Hockey Ambassador"

Nicole and Stasia join me to discuss caring for children with rare diseases and autism. We also go into details of how we define success with our children and just how much perseverance it takes for children, and their parents alike, to help them to reach their own potential and thrive. Nicole and Stasia also share with us the importance of self care amidst it all, how reaching out is so important and how that can be a form of self-care in and of itself.

Kate Houck is the Executive Director of David's Refuge, a central New York state based organization that provides respite resources and support to families of children with complex needs and life-threatening illnesses. Kate is passionate about caring for the caregivers and shares with us just how David's Refuge came to be, how they support parents through respite services, events, virtual support, and networking opportunities. She emphasizes the need for respite and how it has such a profound impact and positive ripple effect on the caregivers who receive it by giving them the feeling of empowerment and allowing them to feel less alone in their journeys. Despite the challenges with Covid, David's Refuge is continually coming up with innovative ways of expanding beyond the state of New York to meet the growing needs of parents throughout all of the United States.