MESSAGE FOR NATIONAL CAREGIVER DAY: I SEE YOU, I SALUTE YOU

The first Tuesday in April is National Caregiver Day. It's a day to stand up and pay special attention to YOU who care for someone you love. Or YOU whose job it is to care for others with kindness and compassion.

I SEE YOU.
I salute you for waking early to prepare a special diet breakfast.

I SEE YOU.
I salute you for calling the pharmacy to re-order medications after you've walked the dog, swept the floor and filled out forms for insurance claims.

I SEE YOU.
I salute you for researching new symptoms while you eat leftovers for lunch.

I SEE YOU.
I salute you for interrupting your lunch to answer the call of your loved one who needs an extra blanket for warmth and comfort.

I SEE YOU.
I salute you for drying the tears of your loved one and telling old family stories to distract from sadness and pain.

I SEE YOU.
I salute you for calling the doctor to change an appointment time that conflicts with another specialist.

I SEE YOU.
I salute you for finishing the third load of laundry before 10am.

I SEE YOU.
I salute for reading an article about self-care and wondering how to fit that in to the day.

I SEE YOU.
I salute you for grocery shopping for healthy food including the ingredients for a special diet.

I SEE YOU.
I salute you for loading the wheelchair and the groceries into the car after you've helped your loved one into the passenger seat.

I SEE YOU.
I salute you for taking your loved one to visit a day program even though there are no available spaces.

I SEE YOU.
I salute you for preparing two dinners - one for your loved one and one for the rest of the family.

I SEE YOU.
I salute you for wiping your loved one's chin before anyone else sees the crumbs.

I SEE YOU.
I salute you for waking often in the night to check on your loved one or give medications.

I SEE YOU.
I salute you for your kindness, compassion and creative problem-solving today and every day of the year even though you are tired and sometimes sad to the point of desperation.

I SEE YOU.
I salute you for the love you show every day towards others. And I salute you for the joy you find in caring and for the sacrifices you make to keep going. Happy National Caregivers Day, April 4, 2017!