Neighbors to share their caregiver and health journeys

As Dot Damon’s parents grew older and faced health issues, juggling her three primary roles as daughter, nurse and caregiver became challenging. Pattie Braga found herself in a similar position when her father had a stroke. Navigating those times with love, patience and understanding helped them through it, but it wasn’t easy.

Both Ventura County residents will share their journeys along with community members Elizabeth Olson, Leslie McLeod and Dawn Smithfield at Camarillo Health Care District’s second storytelling show, “Stories from the Heart: Tales of Life, Love and Learning.” The first show was held Spring 2023.

The event is a live version of the District’s podcast featuring true, personal stories about caregiving, health and family. It will take place 6-7 p.m. Feb. 6, 2025, in the Community Room at Camarillo Public Library, 4101 Las Posas Road. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. and seating is first available. There is no charge for admission, but you must pre-register by calling 805-388-1952, as seating is limited.

“Growing up, I never considered myself an athlete,” said Elizabeth, whose story, “From English Rose to Triathlon Competitor,” is about a health journey inspired by her father and nurtured by friends who held her accountable to a healthy lifestyle. “My story is about the importance of friendship and that you have the power to change how you perceive yourself,” she said.

Dawn’s story is about finding love later in life while experiencing the ups and downs of caring for aging parents.

“What I hope listeners take away from my story is that sometimes love comes later in life, and that we should not give up hope of finding our soulmates,” she said. “Even when we are older, our hearts can still rejoice at finding love, making us feel 16 years old inside.”

She and her husband bonded over being dog parents and serving as family caregivers for their parents.

“The hardest thing we’ve ever had to do was say goodbye to our loved ones, both two- and four-legged, when the time came. But being together has helped us get through it,” she said.

Her story is titled “Better Late than Never.”

Pattie’s is about becoming a family caregiver for her father after his stroke and the lessons she learned after she was given the gift of time with him.

“All those Saturdays and all those ‘Jeopardy’ games on TV, I learned more about him as a person than I ever would have if it weren’t for our time together. Watching him manage his physical limitations taught me about patience, acceptance and dignity.”

Leslie will talk about family dynamics during times of crisis and changing roles as parents age. She hopes her story conveys "heightened awareness of the need for communication, grace and forgiveness in family relationships. "

"Wholly unprepared, my siblings and I walked through times of surprising closeness and devastating division as we learned to communicate frankly, make impossible decisions and extended grace to ourselves and each other," she said. 

“To me, relationships are the most important thing in the world. They’re also the most vulnerable, especially when we are dealing with an ailing loved one and our own fragile, super-sized emotions. Through the season of caring for our parents, my siblings and I experienced rifts, but also some of the most precious times of connection.”

Leslie hopess her story resonates with other caregivers and they take away the message to prioritize family relationships and communication when caring for an ailing loved one.

Dot says she was grateful for the opportunity to help her parents during their golden years.  “I feel absolutely fulfilled that I was part of their care from when (their need) began until the end of their lives.”

Dot had some help from professional caregivers, recognizing she couldn’t do it alone and that she also needed to take care of herself, giving herself respite and making “self-care” a priority, too. “It’s paramount to be able to function and think clearly when your loved one is relying on you to make decisions and provide them with safety, security and their needs,” she said. She hopes by sharing her journey, other family caregivers will understand they are not alone.

Listen to their stories in person at this upcoming event or tune into our podcast, which you can find here by clicking on our website.