Life As A Caregiver – a Column By Colleen Steele

August 3, 2020July 30, 2020

Life as a Caregiver Is Worthy of a Reality TV Show

Columns, Life As A Caregiver - a Column By Colleen Steele

When driving to doctors’ appointments for my son Cullen, we often listen to “The Danny Bonaduce & Sarah Morning Show.” They make us laugh, and we enjoy the topics. ... Read more

July 27, 2020July 23, 2020

The Power of Persistence When Battling Health Insurance

Columns, Life As A Caregiver - a Column By Colleen Steele

If you are battling a chronic illness, odds are you have also battled health insurance. My son Cullen managed his pulmonary hypertension (PH), received a heart and double-lung transplant, ... Read more

July 20, 2020July 17, 2020

Surviving the Stages of Grief Caused by a Life-threatening Illness

Columns, Life As A Caregiver - a Column By Colleen Steele

It’s challenging to develop healthy coping styles upon receiving a shocking pulmonary hypertension diagnosis. My 8-year-old son, Cullen’s, PH diagnosis was like a magic wand that instantly transformed our ... Read more

July 13, 2020July 13, 2020

Rooted in the Love of Cullen’s Grandparents, We Are Strong

Columns, Life As A Caregiver - a Column By Colleen Steele

About 14 years ago, our oldest son, Cullen, started showing signs of disease. For two years, we lived with the frustration of not knowing the cause. Finally, we discovered ... Read more

July 6, 2020July 2, 2020

My Son Is Taking Over His Own Care Management

Columns, Life As A Caregiver - a Column By Colleen Steele

In last week’s column, I discussed my son Cullen’s transition from pediatric to adult care at a medical center not associated with his previous team. My focus has been ... Read more

June 29, 2020June 25, 2020

How to Survive a Medical Move

Columns, Life As A Caregiver - a Column By Colleen Steele

It was a bittersweet experience when my parents sold my childhood home. I grew up and left for college, and my parents were moving into the home of their ... Read more

June 22, 2020June 19, 2020

How to Become Obsessed with Survival

Columns, Life As A Caregiver - a Column By Colleen Steele

Among the many challenges of living with a life-threatening condition are the daily demands it places on both the patient and the caregivers. A life-threatening illness isn’t something one ... Read more

June 15, 2020June 12, 2020

Why I Speak For Cullen

Columns, Life As A Caregiver - a Column By Colleen Steele

The lyrics in Natalie Merchant’s song “Wonder” make me think of my son, Cullen: “Newspapers ask intimate questions / Want confessions / They reach into my head / To ... Read more

June 8, 2020June 4, 2020

Coping with the Challenges of Change

Columns, Life As A Caregiver - a Column By Colleen Steele

We commonly think of change as a new experience. It can be unfamiliar and require effort to come to terms with, but it also can be a repeat of ... Read more

June 1, 2020May 28, 2020

Ronald McDonald House Charities Responds to Epidemic Challenges

Columns, Life As A Caregiver - a Column By Colleen Steele

When my son was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension, we drove from our home in Washington state to California to seek care from a specialist at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital ... Read more

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