Even with my nursing background, I was overwhelmed by the realities of being a full-time caregiver while continuing to work and raise our three girls. When my late husband was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer at the age of 36, I understood the medical side of his care, but that did not make it easy to carry everything our family suddenly had to manage.

Serious illness reached far beyond appointments and treatments. There were medical bills, insurance issues, paperwork, records to organize, calls to make, and difficult conversations with providers and loved ones. We had to help our children understand what was happening while still keeping everyday family life moving. It was exhausting, and I often wished I had someone to help carry some of that practical workload so I could preserve more of my time and energy for my husband and our girls.

The illness may be happening physically to the patient, but its effects reach everyone who loves and cares for them. Amid the fear, exhaustion, and uncertainty, patients and families can begin to lose the sense of control and autonomy they once had.

I created Back Pocket Caregiver to offer patients and families the kind of education, practical resources, and support I once wished I had. My goal is to help them feel more organized, ask informed questions, manage the many moving pieces, and regain some of that autonomy—so they can preserve more energy for the people and moments that matter most.