After Richard was diagnosed with esophageal cancer, we started a blog together called "The Purple Jacket."

The Purple Jacket became a symbol of our caregiving experience, and it was a place where Richard and I could share our stories and feel comforted by the people we met along the way during our caregiving journey.

Through The Purple Jacket, we met thousands of caregivers from all over the world who felt just like we did, scared, concerned, and hopeful for a cure, yet willing to share their knowledge and resources, which helps build a strong community and strong friendships. During this time, we also coined a nickname for Richard, “TLO,”…meaning "The Little One", as Richard stood a foot shorter than me!

Richard loved reading the comments from our readers, and he was always thrilled when someone simply asked..."How's TLO Today!"

The Purple Jacket is also a symbol of self-care and self-compassion, two very important components of life that are often lost in the midst of caregiving.

We always signed off our blog post on The Purple Jacket by saying..."We might have cancer, but cancer never had us."  This slogan was part of our self-compassion and love for each other. Mindful that I was the co-pilot in this journey, we were on this roller-coaster ride together, and no matter what cancer would throw at us, we were in this together as one.

After gaining over 50lbs while in the midst of caregiving, I knew once I could fit into the Purple Jacket again, I would be on the road to better health and self-care!

While I do not write on The Purple Jacket any longer, I leave the site up, just as it was during our caregiving journey, as a reminder of time well spent and good memories. You can visit The Purple Jacket here.

I've often been asked, "Why the Whole Care Network and not a name in and around caregiving?"

Creating the Whole Care Network has been my way of giving back to the Caregiving community, who allowed us to share our story, bringing comfort and joy to Richard and me while establishing life-long friendships through our caregiving journey.

As I've said before...' Through story sharing, diversity meets the road to collaborate on a common cause.'  Story sharing is cathartic; story sharing breaks down walls and helps topple fear while bringing comfort, compassion, and empathy to the storyteller and story receiver. Story sharing brings people together from diverse backgrounds who learn their common goal is to care for their loved ones simply.

While I started The Whole Care Network based on my own experience as a working family caregiver and the passion gained through advocacy and collaboration before, during, and after caregiving ends; I also realized from my experience that caregiving is about caring for the caregiver, the care receiver and the care team in body, mind, and spirit.  Rather a whole care, holistic approach to caregiving.

That is precisely why the Whole Care Network is about "Whole Care" for the caregiver, care receiver, and care team; Our 4 Pillars of Care is our way to bring good health, well-being, and self-compassion to everyone who finds our stories comforting, before, during or after caregiving ends.

Caregiving is not a local issue; it is a global issue, and each one of us will need a caregiver at some point in our lives.  Yet, in most cases, caregiving is an unplanned event that finds people making critical decisions in the midst of an emergency in unfamiliar territories like health care and the legal system.  As my loyal listeners on my Healing Ties podcast often hear me ask..."Have you met anyone who has caregiving on their bucket list of things to do in their lives?"

I've yet to meet one person who has said "YES" to my question.  That's because Caregiving is often an unplanned event that impacts all components of our daily lives that is unimaginable until you are in the midst of it.

One of the unique features of the Whole Care Network is most of our show hosts are podcasting because they have a story to share, a resource to provide, and a willingness to help others. Our goal on the Whole Care Network is to connect listeners to real-life stories and vetted resources so they can be better prepared and proactive instead of reactive when a crisis arises.

Finally, the Whole Care Network takes me back to my first job in Social Work as the administrator of an information and referral service hotline in St. Louis, MO., where we provided critical and accurate information and referrals to people who were in an emergency or crisis. Providing accurate information and referral has been a passion of mine since I was a young social worker in St. Louis in the late 1980s.

To learn more about the Whole Care Network and how you can join as a contributor, visit our 'About' page by clicking here!

Shift Happens: From Healing Ties 2.0 to AgingGayfully™

After almost 300 episodes of "Be A Healthy Caregiver" and my "Healing Ties" podcast, 2022 has shifted my focus.  I've been privileged to be involved in the caregiving community since 2011, and I will always be connected to caregivers in one way or another.

However, there is life after caregiving, and each caregiver explores their new life in their own time and at their own pace.  My time has come in 2022 to explore new destinations through travel, leisure, and adventure with my new AgingGayfully™ brand, which will debut in the Summer of 2022.

Just as caregiving is a universal issue, so is Aging.  I intended to create the Aging Gayfully brand under the auspice of travel: "Travel - Adventure - Lifestyle"... via blogs, videos, and podcasts, demonstrating how I am AgingGayfully and finding those on my travel adventures who are aging gayfully too.  You'll find AgingGayfully™ here on the Whole Care Network soon as well as a few other locations too.

And you might know my boutique travel agency has a name you might recognize...TLO Travel and Tours, Inc

Stay tuned!