What happens when being the caregiver your loved one needs means accepting that you cannot do it all yourself?
In this episode of The Hart of It All, Teri Hart speaks with four-time JUNO Award nominee Shawnee Kish about becoming a caregiver to her mom, Lynn, after a catastrophic brainstem stroke changed both of their lives in December 2020.
Shawnee shares the extraordinary lengths she and her wife, Jen, went to support Lynn, from navigating hospitals and rehabilitation during COVID to buying and renovating a home so they could live together and provide the support she needed. But as Shawnee tried to help her mom rebuild her life, she began to realize that recovery could not happen on her terms. Lynn had changed, her needs had changed, and Shawnee had to learn the difference between trying to fix someone’s life and supporting them as they decide what they want that life to look like.
At the same time, the demands of full-time caregiving were taking a devastating toll on Shawnee’s career, marriage, motherhood and sense of self. She opens up about reaching a point where something had to change, the guilt she felt admitting she could no longer provide the level of care her mom needed, and how another major health crisis forced their family to rethink everything once again.
Today, Mama Lynn is thriving with a team providing around-the-clock support, while Shawnee has found a new way to be both her daughter and her caregiver. Their relationship, she says, has never been better.
This is a powerful conversation about caregiver burnout, guilt, power of attorney, family dynamics, stroke recovery and the difficult realization that sometimes the most loving thing a caregiver can do is stop trying to be the hero.
Resources:
Follow Shawnee Kish:
Website: https://www.shawneekish.com/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@shawneekish
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shawneekish/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/67KtTWjRTAU9ZkjRFnaffZ?si=70T4i4kCSvqc2YPcvLk6AA
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/ca/artist/shawnee-kish/1559364390
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Officialshawneekish
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shawneekish
To watch this episode, subscribe to The Hart Of It All's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheHartofitAllPod
Follow The Hart Of It All:
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Follow Teri Hart:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/terihart
Co-Executive Produced by: Carrie Hayden & Jess Carroll of 6of1 Digital
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/6of1digital
I’m here to share stories and conversations, not medical or professional advice. I’m not a doctor, therapist, or licensed professional, and this podcast is NOT a substitute for guidance from qualified experts. Please seek out professional support when you need it. Take care and I’ll see you in the next episode.
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🟡 About The Hart of it All
A podcast about navigating the realities of caregiving.
No one should have to do it alone. That’s the heart behind The Hart of It All, hosted by Canadian broadcaster Teri Hart. Inspired by her own experience caring for her dad and helping her mom navigate a new reality, Teri shines a light on the stories, resources, and conversations caregivers need most.
From doctors and nutritionists to fellow caregivers living it every day, each episode offers guidance and connection. Honest, supportive, and grounded in lived experience, The Hart of It All is here to remind us that caring for each other is something we’re all in together.
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