In Sickness: Recent Episodes
Allison Breininger and Justin Bajema
Listen in as Allison Breininger and Justin Bajema, millennial caregivers for their chronically ill spouses, speak honestly about what life is like when there are more days spent in sickness than in health.
Some caregivers feel there is an unspoken expectation that we only share the positive aspects of our role; that we appear to be brave and strong and grateful. In this episode, Allison and Justin talk about where that misperception may stem from, the damage it can cause, and how supporters can help.
With local and national elections just weeks away, we spoke with Nicole Jorwic, Chief of Campaigns and Advocacy for Caring Across Generations, a nonpartisan nonprofit working to build real, helpful, thoughtful care systems by transforming cultural norms and narratives about aging, disability and care, fighting for policy change at every level, and uniting a powerful coalition across the millions of us who are touched by care. Nicole shares the current state of care, what’s at stake in the upcoming elections, and what caregivers and their supporters can do to make a difference.
Join us for an online support group related to this episode on Wednesday, September 25 from 6:00-7:15pm CT. Sign up here.
Caring Across Generations
Care Voter Guide
Two-thirds of family caregivers work full or part time in addition to their caregiving role. In this episode, we speak with Jessica C. Guthrie, caregiver for mother, about what it looks like when careers and caregiving collide.
https://www.jessicacguthrie.com/
https://www.instagram.com/careercaregivingcollide/
Aging, illness, and injuries can cause people to lose some of their freedom and autonomy. As caregivers, how do we help our loved ones maintain that autonomy and what does that look like when their decisions or actions impact us or may not be taking the whole picture into consideration? In this episode, Justin and Allison talk about ways to approach these complex situations.
We will all experience grief in our lives, but there are unique and extra layers of emotions often felt by the person who had been the caregiver for the one who has passed. In this episode, we talk with Aisha Adkins, caregiver for her parents, about the loss of her mother and Eric Schlueter, caregiver for his wife, about his experience with grief since her passing.
Advocacy is an enormous part of the role of the caregiver. We advocate on behalf of our loved ones in medical spaces, with friends and family, in the community, and even directly with our person. In this episode, Allison and Justin discuss these aspects of advocacy, how personality traits impact our comfort with these tasks, and how supporters can help.
Caregivers and their loved ones frequently have to revisit the same buildings and rooms in which they previously experienced traumatizing procedures, treatments, or news. In this episode, Justin and Allison share what this has been like for them and how they handle going back time after time.
All of the tasks of being a caregiver can take a toll, causing physical, emotional, and mental fatigue. In an unfortunate bit of irony, that fatigue can make the role even more challenging. In this episode, Allison and Justin talk about how it feels to be in an intense season of caregiving, the toll it takes, and the guilt they experience when they feel they aren’t at their best.
Justin’s wife received unexpected test results that led down the path of scans, an appointment with an oncologist and a plan for surgery. In this episode, Justin shares what they’ve been through and what lies ahead.
Caregivers can experience frequent moments of disappointment, from plans that need to be canceled to treatments that don’t work to people not showing up when we need them most. In this episode, Allison and Justin talk about the types of disappointment they have faced, ways disappointment can be processed, and what we can do to manage our expectations.Caregivers can experience frequent moments of disappointment, from plans that need to be canceled to treatments that don’t work to people not showing up when we need them most. In this episode, Allison and Justin talk about the types of disappointment they have faced, ways disappointment can be processed, and what we can do to manage our expectations.
Caregivers and their families frequently find that well-meaning friends, family, and medical staff show up in ways that do not line up with the needs, wishes, and values of the patient. In these cases, it’s important for the caregiver to establish and enforce boundaries, both for their loved one and for themself, which can be challenging on a number of levels. In this episode, Justin and Allison talk about how they feel about setting boundaries, different scenarios in which it may be important to do so, and ways that supporters can help.
Caregiving can have an enormous impact on the mental and emotional health of a caregiver and therapy is one important tool that can help. However, there are barriers that may cause caregivers to hesitate, despite the benefits. In this episode, Allison and Justin share their own experiences with therapy, describe what may stand in the way of a caregiver accessing therapy, and list some resources that can help.
Maybe You Should Talk to Someone - Lori Gottlieb
Psychology Today
National Alliance on Mental Illness
Some caregivers go through phases in which their loved one's health is a bit more stable. These seasons can leave caregivers wondering if they can still claim that title and can allow some space for reflection. In this episode, Justin talks about what it's been like to be in a quieter season these past few months.
Making plans can feel risky and complex for caregivers, as they find themselves creating contingency plans for all that might go awry before, during, and after the event. All this can lead caregivers to play it safe, deciding that staying home is easier - but at what cost? In this episode, Justin and Allison talk about which way they tend to tip, and the consequences that follow.
For people living with an illness or injury, appointments with medical professionals can feel like important moments to learn more about the prognosis, get access to new treatments, and share concerns about new symptoms. But what happens when those appointments don’t go well? How does that impact caregivers and what, if anything, is their role in following up? In this episode, Allison and Justin talk about their experiences with unpleasant appointments for their spouses, how that felt, and what they did about it.
Most caregivers come into the role without any medical background and yet find themselves performing high stakes tasks and making countless decisions. In this episode, Justin and Allison talk about times they did receive training, if it was effective, and where the gaps are in the system.
https://www.embracingcarers.com/
For a caregiver, the experience of a loved one being hospitalized can involve countless moments of decision-making, symptom tracking, and advocating all while being away from home and while bearing witness to our person’s suffering. Allison recently experienced all of this and more when her husband spent multiple days in the Emergency Room and hospital. In this episode, she shares with Justin what went into the before, during, and after that hospital stay.
Stories of caregiving are becoming more prevalent in both the news and in the entertainment industry. In this episode, Justin and Allison weigh in about how accurately they feel it’s being portrayed and the impact of this type of representation for both caregivers and their supporters.
NYTimes: "I Wish I Had Known That No One Was Going To Help Me"
NYTimes: "The Quiet Rage of Caregivers"
When one member of a family has an accident or receives a diagnosis, every person feels the impact. In this episode, Allison and Justin interview Dr. Vaida Kazlauskaite, a medical family therapist, about how we can recognize and care for the needs of every family member.
The hustle and bustle of the holiday season can be especially challenging for caregivers who are already stretched thin and short on time, energy, and finances. In this episode, Allison and Justin discuss the factors that can make this time of year feel particularly hard, what we can do to make it through, and how supporters can help.
In Sickness Episode 55: Grieving at the Holidays
When we become caregivers, any illusion we had of being in control in our lives can be lost. We are often unable to control disease progression, our loved one’s pain, and broken systems, just to name a few. This lack of control can make some people cling more tightly to what they have left and can make others let go altogether. In this episode, Justin and Allison talk about how they have experienced this lack of control and how supporters can help.
Treatment side effects, exhaustion, and role changes are just a few of the many reasons that a couple may struggle with or shy away from physical intimacy when dealing with a recovery from a serious illness. In this episode, Allison speaks with marriage and family therapist from Memorial Sloan Kettering, Dr. Talia Zaider, about how common this is and what couples can do when it does.
Medical appointments are often a huge component of a caregiver’s life, the impact spanning far beyond the time spent with the provider. In this episode, Justin and Allison discuss all that goes into preparing for, living through, and recovering from appointments from a caregiver perspective.
Susan Silk created "The Ring Theory" as a way to guide people who are supporting someone in a crisis. In this episode, Allison and Justin discuss how this model of "Comfort In, Dump Out" applies to caregiving.
Ring Theory: How not to say the wrong thing
As caregivers, we have a front row seat to the suffering of our loved ones. We are often the only people who see them in their hardest moments. In this episode, Justin and Allison talk about what that’s like, the impact it has on them, and how supporters can help.
When our loved one's days are numbered or their good days are few and far between, we can feel like we need to complete bucket lists or that we must make the most of every moment. In this episode, Allison and Justin talk about how that pressure shows up in their lives and what they do about it.
Caregivers, like any of us, can fall into the trap of comparing themselves to others. Whether it’s comparing the severity, length, or type of caregiving they are doing with someone else, comparing their own struggles with that of the person for whom they are caring, or comparing their lives to their non-caregiving peers, these thoughts can creep in and keep caregivers from sharing their stories and getting support. Listen in as Allison and Justin talk about the variety of ways comparison can show up and how supporters can help.
Each of us is wired differently and that wiring can lead us to choose our careers, our partners, our hobbies. But caregiving is a role into which we are thrust, so how do our personality traits help or hinder our caregiving lives? In this episode, Allison and Justin interview certified Enneagram Coach Jenna Law to learn more.
https://www.enneagraminstitute.com/
https://www.everydayenneagram.me/
Caregivers are often told they are “saints” or that people can’t imagine how they do what they do. While well-meaning, language like this can have a variety of negative effects. In this episode, Allison and Justin talk about how phrases like this land and what supporters can say instead.
There are things that we may grieve even before they happen. The death of a loved one is one such event, but it's certainly not the only. In this episode, Justin and Allison discuss the role this type of grief plays in their lives and how supporters can help.
Of all the emotions caregivers experience, anger isn’t one that is spoken of very often. In this episode, Allison and Justin talk about why it is that caregivers feel they aren’t able to speak about their anger, triggers that may cause anger to occur, and strategies that may support caregivers as they process these feelings.
Caregivers are weary. In this episode, Justin and Allison discuss some of the reasons, including extra responsibilities, lack of sleep, hypervigilance, and the emotional toll this role takes, as well as some realistic ways to find moments of rest.
There is often confusion around what palliative care is, who it is meant for, and at what stage of life. In this episode, Allison and Justin interview Dr. Drew Rosielle, who provides the history, describes the model, and outlines the goals and benefits of palliative care.
https://getpalliativecare.org/
Caregiving can impact our friendships in a variety of ways. Some friends disappear. Others stick around, but disappoint. Others we find and connect with because of our caregiving role. Listen in as Allison and Justin dig into these different types of relationships.
One of the few things we can count on in this life is death and yet our culture is not good at talking about or preparing us for it. In this episode, Justin and Allison speak with Jane Whitlock, an end of life doula and former spousal caregiver, about her role, the stages of death, and the questions we can start asking and conversations we can start having now about this important and inevitable topic.
Jane Whitlock - Website What I Learned About Life from Death | Jane Whitlock | TEDxMinneapolis Gone From My Sight: The Dying Experience - Barbara Karnes Being With Dying - Joan Halifax Minnesota Death Collaborative GoWish Cards Advice to Future Corpses (and Those Who Love Them) - Sallie Tisdale A Beginner's Guide to the End - BJ Miller National End of Life Doula Alliance
There’s no question that the life of a caregiver is hard and that feelings of disappointment, comparison, and unfairness can be pervasive. So how do caregivers move through their days as they deal with the weight of it all? In this episode, Justin and Allison talk about how to keep going even when everything is terrible.
When someone in our life has an acute injury or medical situation, it makes sense for us to focus solely on their needs. But when an illness becomes longer-lasting or chronic, caregivers need to find ways to balance the needs of their loved ones with their own. In this episode, Allison and Justin talk about why that can be challenging, ways that can look, and what might happen if we don’t.
In January, Allison was with her mother-in-law through her final days on earth. In this episode, she talks about what that was like and shares how the experience of being present during the days of hospice and in the moment of her death has changed her perspective as a caregiver.
Aisha Adkins, who cares for both her parents, joins Allison and Justin to talk about her caregiving journey, as well as her work with Caring Across Generations supporting other caregivers.
aishaadkins.com
Caring Across Generations
There are many reasons people may hesitate to claim or use the caregiver title. In this episode, Justin and Allison dig into why that may be as well as talk about the benefits and challenges of doing so.
Some caregiving roles are brief, but many, like the ones Justin and Allison are in, end up being long-term. In this episode, they talk about what part acceptance plays in being a caregiver. They discuss questions such as: At what point do we need to accept that our lives are forever changed? What is the benefit of acceptance? How can supporters help a caregiver who is working through the process of acceptance?
Caregivers experience multiple kinds of grief on a regular day, but at the holidays these feelings can be exacerbated. In this episode, Allison and Justin discuss the various forms of grief that may emerge this time of year, what caregivers can do to get through this season, and how supporters can help.
Caregivers often say that they aren’t seen. But what would it look like to be seen? What is it that they wish for? In this episode, Allison and Justin talk about times and ways that they have felt either unseen or seen in their caregiving roles and the implications of each. In addition, they provide a number of simple strategies that supporters can use to show intentional care for the caregivers in their lives.
Justin and Allison both have good news in their caregiving lives to share, but that news came at a cost. In this episode, they talk about how it's often after the event or the test results are in that the caregiver has a chance to process all they've just been through, but it's at that same moment that the world wants to celebrate and then move on.
November 2022 Giveaway Link
Life is full for everyone, especially caregivers. In this episode, Justin and Allison talk about ways to eliminate, delegate, or simplify daily tasks.
Everyone experiences feelings of resentment, but caregivers have extra reasons these emotions might creep up. In addition, they have the layer of feeling as if they shouldn't feel this way and that they definitely shouldn't talk about it. Listen in as Justin and Allison discuss how resentment shows up in their lives, what it might be telling them, how they handle it when it does, and how supporters can help.
We often equate rest with sleep, but as caregivers and humans, there are other ways we can and need to find rest throughout our days. Listen in as Allison and Justin talk about how they've seen this play out in their own lives and how supporters can help.
Comments made to caregivers can range from insensitive and hurtful to validating and supportive. In this episode, Allison and Justin highlight quotes shared by listeners while talking about how powerful words, or the lack thereof, can be.
In recent weeks, Justin and Allison’s families have had opportunities to travel, celebrate milestone birthdays, and attend weddings and a county fair - all events that are full of extra layers when caregiving. In this episode, they discuss what it’s like to prepare for, live through, and recover from special occasions as caregivers.
Caregivers of all kinds can slip into the role of nurse and lose sight of the real relationship they have with their loved one, whether that’s a partner, child, parent, or friend. In this episode, Allison and Justin talk about creative ways to find moments of connection even when you’re homebound or low on energy.
While caring for a loved one, caregivers can have experiences that lead to trauma. In this episode, Justin and Allison talk with Dr. Megan Voss about how trauma can manifest itself, what to do if it does, and ways to begin to process it even as we continue caregiving.
Taking Charge of Your Survivorship
Research tells us that caregivers are at a higher risk of physical ailments and chronic conditions than their non-caregiving peers. In this episode, Allison and Justin dig into the reasons behind these statistics and offer some realistic strategies for caregivers and their supporters.
It’s a cultural norm to reply that we’re “fine” when asked how we’re doing, even if that isn’t always an accurate answer. Caregivers find themselves hiding behind the “I’m fine!” mask even more often than others. In this episode, Justin and Allison discuss the reasons why, how caregivers can begin to say how they really are, and what supporters can do to help.
Even as they do so much for their loved ones, a common feeling experienced by caregivers is guilt. In this episode, Justin and Allison talk about feeling as if they are never doing enough, about how comparison can be dangerous, and the role that guilt plays in their caregiving lives.
Over the past year, Allison has been experiencing increasingly severe panic attacks as well as feeling physically run down. In March, she reached a breaking point that led her to take a month off of work. In this episode, she shares what those challenging weeks were like and what she is doing to heal.
After living with depression and anxiety for many years, Justin recently began a thirty-six day regimen of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS). In this episode he shares how he came to the decision to try this course of treatment, what it’s been like so far, and how it has felt to be the one in need of care.
Special guest, Liz Naylor, mother of four children with myotonic muscular dystrophy and Founding Executive Director of My-Vida, joins Allison and Justin to talk about what caregiving looks like from the parent perspective.
As caregivers we are attuned to the needs and moods of our loved ones and spend our days showing them care and compassion. However, we rarely transfer those same skills to ourselves. In this episode, Allison and Justin talk about simple ways we can start to implement self compassion when it comes to our thoughts, moods, and mistakes.
Kristin Neff - self-compassion.org
Even in the hardest of times, caregivers often shoulder the weight of it all instead of asking for support. In this episode, Justin and Allison talk about what initially pushed them to reach out for help, why doing so can feel so difficult, and logistically how they made it work.
Caregiving is a lonely role. From moments of being physically alone to situations where no one understands their reality, Allison and Justin talk together about the loneliness of being a caregiver.
From the mundane details of each day to moments of medical emergencies to treatment plans to COVID safety, caregivers are constantly making decisions. In this episode, Justin and Allison talk about what that looks and feels like in their daily lives and how their personalities impact their decision-making skills.
The celebration of Justin’s 40th birthday led him to reflect on where he thought he would be at this time in his life versus where he is. In this episode, he and Allison talk about how becoming caregivers changed their trajectories, how they are trying to claim the role without losing themselves in it, and how to remember and focus on who they are, not just what they do.
When you are part of a rare disease or chronic illness community, there is comfort in building relationships with others whose lives look like your own, those who understand the terminology and the reality of your daily life. However, those important friendships can lead to unhelpful comparisons or even heartache as friends are lost to the disease. Listen in as Allison and Justin describe the ups and downs they’ve experienced in friendships with fellow caregivers and with those living with chronic and serious illnesses.
As chronic illness caregivers, Justin and Allison are used to experiencing daily challenges, but in the past weeks they’ve both found themselves in unexpected medical situations beyond their norm.
Allison and Justin describe the unique challenges that arise when the person you’re caring for has an invisible illness.
Allison's piece mentioned in the show: The Invisible Traveler
November is caregiver appreciation month, and to celebrate we're giving away one of Allison's Caregiver Gift Boxes along with some other treats! We'll pick a winner at the end of November, and they can either send it to a caregiver in their life, or if they are a caregiver, they can keep it for themselves. Click here to enter!
Justin and Allison discuss the ways in which caregiving impacts their physical, emotional, and mental health, what burnout feels like to them, and how supporters can help.
Allison describes the recent battles she has been fighting since learning that Sean's home health supplies are not covered under Medicare. Justin shares the dehumanizing process Sarah went through when applying for disability. Both dig in to what it feels like to fight back against a broken system.
Allison and Justin talk about the difficult reality of being a caregiver for someone with a lifelong chronic illness. They discuss how things felt at the beginning, how they keep going, as well as how people can better support those in these long term caregiving situations.
Special guest, Kyle Woody, Executive Director of Jack’s Caregiver Coalition, and Justin talk about the unique challenges faced by men who are caregivers. Kyle also shares the free resources provided by Jack’s to male and female caregivers alike.
Jack's Caregiver Coalition
Man Enough to Care
After more than a year of being at home, Allison and Justin talk about the travel opportunities they have taken this summer, both with and without their spouses. They discuss what it’s like to leave their partners and their caregiving responsibilities behind.
Justin and Allison dig into what it feels like to be the physically healthy partner in their relationships, including the grief and struggle they experience when they are able to do things that their spouses cannot.
Allison and Justin talk about their upcoming summer travel plans: Allison with her spouse and Justin without. They cover the challenges and preparation needed for both situations and dig into why they struggle to delegate their caregiving responsibilities.
Justin and Allison talk about how it feels when caregivers are told to find meaning in their hardships and to celebrate and seek well-being through their roles. Spoiler Alert: It doesn’t feel good. They discuss what does feel supportive and what kind of spaces they would like to see more of in the caregiving community.
Allison and Justin discuss how, on top of their caregiving responsibilities, they are weighed down with outside pressures, such as feeling the need to advocate on behalf of their spouses’ diseases, the constant reminders to take care of themselves, and the new pressures and questions surrounding protocols now that things are starting to open up. They discuss the impact these pressures have on them, what they do to release some of that pressure, and what others can do to help.
Justin and Allison process together how life is changing now that they and their spouses are fully vaccinated. They discuss how and if their caregiving roles will be different as the world opens up as well as what they hope people remember from this time.
Justin and Allison both married their spouses years before either of them became ill, but have now spent more years of their marriages as caregivers than not. In this episode, they talk about how married life, roles, and relationships have changed in the time since the diagnoses, as well as what it feels like looking towards the futures that are not what they imagined on their wedding days.
Terrible, Thanks for Asking - Fairplay at Home
After attending a summit on caregiving, Allison shares what she learned about potential policy changes that may support caregivers. She and Justin talk about what they would wish for in terms of systemic change and what it feels like to have this role seen and recognized by people in positions of power. Also, Justin joins the Pandemic Puppy Club!
Care Can't Wait Summit
Already Toast: Caregiving and Burnout in America
Caregiver Gift Boxes
Justin and Allison talk openly about the state of their mental health before becoming caregivers and the ways this role has impacted their anxiety and depression. Justin also shares how a new medication is impacting his wife's overall well-being.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, information and resources are available from the National Alliance on Mental Health by calling 1-800-950-6264 or visiting nami.org/help
After multiple treatments were unsuccessful, Justin and his wife had settled into the reality of life with her chronic illness. At a recent appointment, their doctor mentioned a promising new study in which some Myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) patients saw improvements when adding a new medication. Listen in as Justin shares what it feels like to have a glimmer of hope and as he and Allison talk about the experiences they have had over the years of having, losing, and being devastated by hope.
Links:
The Puzzle Solver: A Scientist's Desperate Quest to Cure the Illness That Stole His Son
How to be Sick
Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist
Allison found out about her husband's most recent cancer diagnosis when an alert popped up in his MyChart account announcing a new Test Result. Listen in as she describes to Justin what the moments and days after opening that message have been like as her family sits with a diagnosis but not yet a plan.
Coming off of three weeks of being sick, Allison talks with Justin about what it’s been like to be under the weather while caregiving. The two of them talk about what drives them to do all that they do and discuss how challenging it is when they are out of commission.
In this episode, Justin and Allison talk about how Covid being a worldwide phenomenon provides an opportunity for all of us to talk about and work through our grief around it more easily, using our common language and experiences. They dig into how these moments can be used as a practice ground for having conversations about and processing hard things, as well as making room and time to celebrate amidst it all.
Justin and Allison talk about several moments in recent days when they have found themselves in the midst of a medical crisis with their partners and what it felt during and in the aftermath of those situations.
Allison and Justin discuss how the unusual circumstances of this holiday season may better allow our families’ needs to be met and how this year can be used to reimagine what family gatherings can look like in the future.
Allison and Justin talk about how Covid has impacted their households recently and how the toll and stress of waiting doesn't end when we get good news. They also follow up on toxic positivity.
November is Caregiver Appreciation Month, and to celebrate we're giving away one of Allison's new Caregiver Gift Boxes. We'll pick a winner at the end of November. Click here to enter!
Allison's piece on waiting.
November is Caregiver Appreciation Month, and to celebrate we're giving away one of Allison's new Caregiver Gift Boxes. We'll pick a winner at the end of November. Click here to enter!
Allison and Justin talk about how toxic positivity is used by and towards caregivers, and can lead to feelings of being dismissed and unheard. They share ideas of how to share and hear hard things without always going to the bright side.
November is Caregiver Appreciation Month, and to celebrate we're giving away one of Allison's new Caregiver Gift Boxes. We'll pick a winner at the end of November. Click here to enter!
Allison and Justin talk about the extra challenges they face as caregivers of people who live with rare conditions, including education of family members, friends, and medical staff. Also, Allison got a puppy.
Allison and Justin talk about how friends and family have shown up to support them throughout their caregiving journey. They offer advice to supporters for ways to provide support and give some suggestions to those caregivers who are lacking support.
Allison and Justin talk about how caregivers need community care in order to practice self care, how they each practice acts of micro-care throughout the day, and what supporters can do and say instead of, “Are you taking care of yourself?”
Allison and Justin talk about the challenges and stresses of working full time jobs while caring for their spouses. They discuss what their employers have done to support them, how they advocate for themselves at work, and just how hard it is to balance it all.
Justin and Allison talk about the pressure of being the person who sees the complete picture of their spouse’s health and feeling overwhelmed because they can’t just rely on the doctors, but need to be their own medical researchers.
Justin and Allison describe all that goes into making appointments happen, from logistics to advocacy to the hangover in the days that follow and how, in the medical setting, they’re never able to “just” be a spouse.
Links:
Q&A with Maya
Allison and Justin talk about the sweet moments of solidarity in March when the world got a taste of what it feels like to be homebound and conscious of germs and what it is like now as parts of society move on, leaving their families behind.
Allison and Justin talk about how as caregivers, we aren’t just caring for our spouses, but also navigating how to support the kids in our lives. What and how much do you tell them and how much do you involve them?
https://linktr.ee/readlikearockstar
This episode was recorded on May 23, before the murder of George Floyd, which is why this important issue wasn’t discussed. We’ve added an additional note at the end of this episode in which we provide resources connecting today’s topic of talking with children about chronic illness to having conversations with kids about racism. Thanks for listening.
Allison and Justin talk about grief, discussing what they miss about the lives they had before their partners were diagnosed, the mourning over the lives they thought they would have but don’t, and the anticipatory grief they carry when thinking about the future. They connect their experiences to the collective feelings of grief being felt by many around the world during this time.
Welcome to the first episode of the In Sickness podcast! Listen in as Allison Breininger and Justin Bajema talk about how they became caregivers for their spouses at a young age, what it’s like to be a caregiver during a pandemic, and how their long-distance friendship has provided an opportunity for them to talk openly about the anxiety that caregiving triggers in them both.