COURAGEOUS CAREGIVERS

God bless the caregivers! These are the brave and dedicated souls who often put their lives on hold for someone else. They are the ones who worry and lose sleep while they give and give and give, rarely taking anything for themselves. They do it out of love and with the faith of knowing that helpful hands and hopeful hearts make a difference. They do it because they know the gifts of time and patience they offer with there intention of making it better, really does.

Below are some notes and stories written by caregivers who visit Leeza's Place.  Their stories are inspiring and heartfelt and I wanted to share them.  Feel free to email me your caregiving story at leeza@leezagibbons.com.

Dear Ms. Gibbons:

My parents have been married for 60 years, but now my dad’s dementia and otherwise poor health has reached a stage where he no longer can be cared for at home.  For the past 6 months my mom, my brother and myself have been on a rollercoaster of hospital admissions, rehab and nursing homes.

Meanwhile, I have been participating at Leeza’s Place for a year.  We now have so many wonderful programs, that each month I take a Leeza’s Place calendar, circle what I am going to attend, and then schedule my personal things (doctors, dentist, etc...) around that!  I live by “Take Your Oxygen First”!  Recently, after a particularly stressful day, my mom said to me, “How could we have ever made it through the past couple months without Leeza’s Place?”  Everything from private Duty Nurses to our Elder Law Attorney!  Does Leeza Gibbons know how really important her community resource have become?

So, I just wanted to let you know that most days I feel like I am traveling on the Titanic – I know Leeza’s Place is always there with a lifeboat.

With Gratitude,

Evelyn

 

Dear Leeza:

It as such a stressful time in my life when the head of the household, my husband Irwin, became incapacitated.  It was scary and very frightening.  I didn’t know where to turn or how to cope.  I tried to pick up my pieces and become assertive, but it was very difficult, until a friend mentioned Leeza’s Place. The first time I went to a meeting there it had almost felt like I had come home.  The people there were all very friendly and seemed very interested in helping one another.

The warm hugs from Nat, a volunteer, Bonnie, Leeza’s Place Pembroke Pines Care Advocate, Dr. Jamie, the Executive Director, Dottie who runs the Reiki Class and all the other people I have met there just energized and educated me to be the best I could be.  It has become my peace.  The walls make me feel welcomed.  They have so many enlightening and informative programs.  I have been very fortunate to have met many wonderful people but one in particular.  Her name is Adele.  We clicked and know how to help each other on this tiring journey we are living.

I love Leeza’s Place and I know I am loved there as well.

Estelle

 

 

My Caregiving Story

by Lois

Leeza’s Place at Memorial Hospital Pembroke Pines

My first visit to Leeza’s Place was a life-saving experience. Caring people are hard to find and their stories comfort my soul. We are all in the same boat floating with the tides coming in and going out so fast that one can easily lose perspective on life.

I was heading downhill as fast as a rollercoaster speeding on a downward slope. Stress has become a major part of coping with a husband who was injured in Hurricane Andrew (category 5) in Deep South Dade-County, a mother 100 years of age and declining rapidly, a daughter with several college degrees that lost her job + health insurance and had no income to pay rent or car expenses, etc..., and to add to this – I recently retired from the University of Miami School of Medicine after a 30 year career.

Whew! That’s a lot for a person to face, let alone write about! Well, unexpected things happen in ones’ lifetime and for me, Leeza’s Place was and has been my saving grace. The numerous programs offered were not only fun but informative as well, and for me, just interaction between the caring people I met there was enough to once again “get myself up, dust off and try again”.

The lectures I attended at Leeza’s Place were empowering and given by such knowledgeable people which helped to clear the way through the mass of paperwork one accumulates when applying for issues relating to health, law, government, etc... Some of the lectures were fun, some directed to healing, and some are just for self-help and mental-awareness which can be a learning experience for anyone in attendance. The advancements in scientific research have always been encouraging and the latest topics offered are available at Leeza’s Places as well.

So, my accolades go out to all the behind the scenes staff including volunteers, and especially to Dr. Jamie Huysman, Bonnie Bonomo and her wonderful assistant Nat, to the caring people affiliated with Memorial Hospital, Pembroke Pines, Florida, and most important, to Leeza Gibbons and her own story which contributed to the founding of this wonderful facility. THANK YOU for giving me this chance to bring some joy into my life and to possibly make my own family, including my grandson (newest generation), proud of me.

Lois