Aggie moved in with her daughter, Peggie, and her family including granddaughter, Maggie Lynn, after her husband passed away seven years ago. Shortly after she moved, Aggie had a debilitating stroke. Peggie is Aggie's primary caregiver, but she credits the love and support of her entire family as critically important factors in Aggie's recovery. Maggie Lynn is a teenager who admits that her mom's time and focus are divided because she is busy taking care of Aggie, but she's also grateful that her grandmother was able to come and live with them. Peggie's advice to other caregivers is, "Try to keep it light. Being able to laugh is very important. Also, talk to other people who have gone through--or are going through--the same thing. Support groups are great and online message boards are … [Continue reading...]

Michelle has been a severe asthmatic since the age of six. Her mother also suffered with asthma and died of an attack at an early age. Michelle talks about what it is like to live with the disease, how she deals with the fear, and what it was like to meet her husband, Gary, and help him learn about her condition. Gary says, "It was a challenge at first, but I focused on what a wonderful, beautiful person she is and that helped me get past the fear of what might happen. We've been married since 2003." His advice for other Caregivers is, "Once you accept the disease as a part of life and understand that this is a challenge you are taking on, don't ever give up. Deal with things one day at a time. And, have faith."{enclose JNJMichelleGary.m4v} … [Continue reading...]