“I got my CNA [certified nursing assistant] license and started working at an all-boys CPS [Child Protective Services] facility. I went in there with a good mental state a year ago. I thought I could handle it and make a difference. But it didn’t work out.

“These kids who had been abused began abusing me. They would hit on us, punch us, bite us, spit on us. I kind of just dealt with it for a while. When our facility was hit with COVID, I had to stay there with everyone. That was a lot to handle. The kids didn’t understand why we weren’t moving anywhere, like not going to school. So they did everything possible to abuse us as caretakers.

“After a 14-year-old hit me, I called the cops. But they didn’t do anything. There was no parenting and no consequences for these kids. That’s when I was like, I’m done. I can’t do this anymore.

“Now I work for a health care provider, taking care of the elderly who can’t do things on their own. I go to their houses and help with things like baths, preparing food, and making sure they take their medicine.

“It can be challenging in some cases. I took care of a lady in hospice who just passed the other day. She was 91. She told me that her life fulfillment was complete. She had no regrets. She was ready for God to take her. Being that a lot of people are afraid of death, I thought that was so interesting. Because I was her care provider, I’m going to her funeral.

“I also work with military veterans and others who have seen a lot and experienced so much in life. I think I can learn some life lessons from them that will help me as an adult. Plus, it just feels nice to help them. When I enter my car after being at someone’s home, it feels like I really accomplished something important.”

— James Rodgers

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“I gave birth to my son in 2013. A couple months after that, my aunt had a stroke. There was no one available to help her get through the physical therapy, bring her to doctor’s appointments, sit with her, and make sure she was taking her medications. She was partially paralyzed on her left side. So she couldn’t drive. She couldn’t pick up a lot of things. She had trouble walking. She needed someone to help her with all that. And that person was me.

“I became her caregiver for about four months. It was pretty challenging. I was this new mom, taking care of my baby and my aunt at the same time. He was with me when I drove into Houston to take her to physical therapy three times a week, and back and forth to doctor’s appointments. To be honest, I didn’t really know what I was doing. For both of them.

“I remember thinking, what would my mom do if she was in this situation? That inspired me to do what I had to do. My mom is this nurse who has taken care of people for years. So I kind of imitated her, and that’s how we got through it.

“I was breastfeeding my son at the time. My aunt gave me the nickname, Meals on Wheels, because he was always hungry. There were times when she needed help getting to the bathroom or doing something else, and I would have to put him down for a minute. Of course he would cry. I’d be like, I’m so sorry, but my aunt needs me more right now. There were moments where I had to take a break and just breathe. Then I would drive home and get ready to do it all over again early the next morning.

“My son is 6 years old now. He is doing fine. My aunt is 80-something, and she is doing fine, off her medications and living well. We are all OK.”

— Maureen St. louis Nelson

Maureen is writing a book, “Through Their Eyes.” It will highlight stories of people in the health care profession and others who are caregivers. If you are in one of those roles and would like to share your experiences for the book, contact Maureen at bluemsnelson@gmail.com.

Related:

• She’s surrounded by a family of caregivers

• Poem about lost pets becomes children’s book

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