In Sickness Allison Breininger and Justin Bajema

As chronic illness caregivers, Justin and Allison are used to experiencing daily challenges, but in the past weeks they’ve both found themselves in unexpected medical situations beyond their norm.

Allison and Justin describe the unique challenges that arise when the person you’re caring for has an invisible illness. 

Justin and Allison discuss the ways in which caregiving impacts their physical, emotional, and mental health, what burnout feels like to them, and how supporters can help.

Allison describes the recent battles she has been fighting since learning that Sean's home health supplies are not covered under Medicare. Justin shares the dehumanizing process Sarah went through when applying for disability. Both dig in to what it feels like to fight back against a broken system.

Allison and Justin talk about the difficult reality of being a caregiver for someone with a lifelong chronic illness. They discuss how things felt at the beginning, how they keep going, as well as how people can better support those in these long term caregiving situations.

Special guest, Kyle Woody, Executive Director of Jack’s Caregiver Coalition, and Justin talk about the unique challenges faced by men who are caregivers. Kyle also shares the free resources provided by Jack’s to male and female caregivers alike.