Cariloop’s Caregiver Scholarship

When I had my first son, I put college on hold to find a closer full-time job. I put him as my priority, which I will never regret. Just two years later, I became pregnant with my daughter. I enrolled in school again, hoping to have her during a break and pick up with school where I left off. However, my uncle, the only male model in my entire life, was diagnosed with terminal cancer and was given only a few months to live. I put school on hold so that I could be his primary caregiver. I slept on the floor of his bedroom, 24 weeks pregnant, and set my alarm for every two hours so I could wake up and give him his pain medication to keep him comfortable in his last weeks. I also didn't want him to be alone, ever. I never slept anywhere but in that room, on his floor, beside his bed. I also left my job so that I could dedicate my days with him. I cared for his chest tube, medication, dressings, we had no need for home health. I pronounced him deceased at 9:40pm. A part of me was gone. I still had my young son to care for, and I was nearing the end of my pregnancy so I needed to bounce back. After my daughter was born, I decided to become an EMT. It was extremely hard taking classes twice a week with two children. I persisted and passed at the top of my class. I could start my journey caring for many people. I had two more children by 2019, and it was time to become a paramedic. I had changed my goals so that I was able to provide more advanced care for my patients, like when I administered my uncle's pain medication to make him comfortable. Being able to provide pain relief and comfort was a positive part about becoming a paramedic, because EMT's can't do that. Along my journey I became more compassionate, especially to children, the elderly, and those with cancer. When I got cancer in 2020, my journey changed just a little bit more. Because of that experience, I understood what it was like to be a cancer patient, which allowed me to be able to relate to many of my patients better. My goal became to make sure people know they aren't alone if they call upon me for help. Caring for others and making sure no one is alone or in pain changed my identity.

My caregiving experience has been a defining part of my life, impacting my goals, journey, and identity. As a mother to three boys three, including one with autism and OCD, and a two-month-old foster child with cystic fibrosis and hearing loss, my life has been challenging but rewarding. Caring for my sons has taught me valuable compassion, patience, and advocacy lessons. My journey as a caregiver began when my first son was diagnosed with autism and OCD. He required extensive speech therapy, ABA, occupational therapy, and food therapy sessions. As a mother, I had to become an advocate for him to get the services he needed to thrive. This experience taught me how to navigate the healthcare system and advocate for my son's rights. Recently, my family fostered a two-month-old boy who was abandoned and left in a Safe-haven hospital in Georgia. He has cystic fibrosis and hearing loss, and we have had to advocate to get him therapies at a young age to prevent developmental delays. As a caregiver, I have learned the importance of supporting children who cannot speak for themselves. Outside of caring for my children, I am also a full-time nursing student and working full-time. Juggling multiple responsibilities can be challenging, but I am determined to impact my community positively. For example, I am working on changing laws to make establishing healthcare facilities in underserved areas easier. I am also suing the government to stop local facilities from restricting trade for new healthcare facilities that want to open. As a nurse, I plan to use my advocacy skills to make positive changes in the healthcare industry. Despite the challenges of being a caregiver, I am excited about the opportunities to improve access to healthcare for women in Georgia and beyond. My primary goal is to open birth centers across the state, starting with Augusta, to ensure every woman has access to safe and reliable healthcare. Additionally, as the executive director of a nonprofit organization promoting healthcare for young women, I hope to empower them to take control of their health and well-being. Being a caregiver has impacted my goals, journey, and identity in many ways. It has taught me the importance of patience, compassion, and advocacy. It has also inspired me to pursue a nursing career to impact the healthcare industry positively. Despite the challenges, I am determined to make a difference in my children's lives and countless patients and their families.

300lbs. That was what I had to lift daily, just get my father out and in to bed every sinle day without any help or break in between. Growing up, my father's car accident and subsequent paralysis changed my life forever. Taking care of my father became a full-time job for my siblings and me. Every day before school, my older sister and I would take care of my father, bathing him and feeding him, and then again after school. This experience forced me to grow up quickly and become responsible at a young age. I had very little time for typical teenage activities or hobbies, like playing intramural sports. Despite the difficulties, this experience taught me the value of hard work and dedication, and the importance of putting others before myself. It has also shaped my personal goals and journey, as I have become more determined to make a positive impact in the lives of others. This caregiving experience has become a part of my identity, and I am proud of the strength and resilience I have developed as a result. One of the most valuable lessons I learned from this experience is the importance of compassion and empathy. Taking care of my father gave me a deeper understanding of what it means to be a caretaker and to put others' needs before my own. This experience has also taught me to appreciate the little things in life, like a smile or a kind word, and to never take anything for granted. In addition to personal growth, this experience has also had a significant impact on my academic and professional goals. I am more driven to pursue a career that allows me to make a positive impact on the lives of others, whether it is in the healthcare field or another related field. I want to use my own experience to help others and to make a difference in the world. Overall, my caregiving experience has been challenging, but it has also been one of the most meaningful and formative experiences of my life. It has shaped my personal goals, journey, and identity, and I am grateful for the lessons and values it has taught me. I believe that this experience will continue to shape me as I navigate my future and I am confident that it will serve as a source of inspiration and motivation as I work towards achieving my goals.