(During this time of COVID-19 and social distancing, we’ve been forced to alter many aspects of our lives. This includes how we deal with death and honoring our loved ones. In this essay, Susan Cummings describes what that meant for her family.) Funerals are for … Continue readingCoronavirus changes how we bring closure
“My daughter was on Instagram or YouTube, and she was watching this video showing someone utilizing a homemade mask. She came to me and said, ‘Let’s do this, Mom. We can do this.’ I didn’t have much fabric on hand. So I called up a … Continue readingMask makers provide extra layer of protection
“If I stop to think about everything that’s happened — being in a difficult marriage, getting a divorce, raising three young girls on my own — it’s a lot. But I think I’ve come a long way, as far as learning more about myself, and … Continue reading‘I’m going to have this huge story to tell’
“I was trying to balance being a new mom and a wife, but to also keep doing music in a way that was flexible. That’s what led me to getting involved with Kindermusik for babies, toddlers and preschoolers, and also starting private lessons for all … Continue readingSingle mom continues to feed music passion
“It’s been 16 months since I was diagnosed with GBS (Guillain-Barré syndrome). Little by little, I’m regaining everything. I still have nerve pain in my neck, my face and legs. They told me that I will probably always have some nerve pain, even when I’m … Continue readingHe’s working hard to leave that wheelchair
“I have heart failure and SVT (supraventricular tachycardia), which is like an irregular heart beat. It makes me feel tired a lot. Some days I have to stay in bed. I can’t play with them like I used to. I can’t run and do things … Continue readingSchool lunch special time for mom, kids
“My mom loved coffee. Starting when I was 7 or 8, I would make her a cup every morning. Back then, we had Folgers instant. I’d heat up the water in the microwave and mix it in. “Growing up, we always had coffee brewing. Coffee … Continue readingHer mother’s memory lives on in coffee shop
“Growing up during the Great Depression, times were so bad. My folks were very poor back in those days. It was a hard life. You just existed. You didn’t have really anything. It was just the very essentials. Just exactly what you could get by … Continue reading‘Iron woman’ helps them survive Great Depression
“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 … Continue reading‘Meals on Wheels’ met caregiver challenge
“Everyone in my immediate family, except for me and one of my older brothers, is in health care. My mother has been a nurse for the elderly for 50-plus years. My two older sisters are nurses. I have a niece who just graduated from Prairie … Continue readingShe’s surrounded by a family of caregivers