Late last month, a sudden cold snap swept down from the Arctic and caused tem­per­a­tures here to plunge to almost 30 degrees Fahr­en­heit (15 degrees Celsius) lower than nor­mal. From a nice warm autumn, with lovely golden leaves and even some flowers still in bloom, a heavy snowfall blanketed the land and caused a sparkly landscape. The prob­lem was that it was really cold. We scrambled to find our parkas, mitts, hats, and boots.

We had winter tires put on one of our vehicles, and my hus­band Dilip got out the snow …

In our family, my husband Mark is the caregiver for me. It wasn’t always that way.

For the first 25 years, we were equal partners. We raised two sons, bal­anc­ing demands of careers and the challenges of parenting. Our lives were not easy, but wonderful and rich. Our children grew up, and we found more time for our personal passions; athletics for me and rock hunting for him.

Six and half years ago, I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma. In the first few months after my diagnosis, our relationship experienced a …

At the end of October, I traveled to Tucson, Arizona to visit my ailing 76-year-old father. The trip had significant lessons for both patients and caregivers. Since I am both, it had a profound impact on me that I am still trying to organize in my mind.

Dad has both terminal cancer and very late-stage multiple sclerosis, a disease he has battled since he was 25 years old. Due to his cancer diag­nosis in August of 2015, he was not expected to live beyond Christmas 2016. Due to his amazing durability and …

I have a new favorite place in our house. It’s a place to discover, create, and retreat. A quiet space with pale walls of robin’s egg blue, creamy white cabinets, and sun beams on butcher block countertops. There are three workspaces in the room: one desk flanked between short book­cases along one wall, and two project tables along the perpendicular walls. It’s perfect for scrapbooking, putting puzzles together, journaling, or just sit­ting peace­fully.

From my workspace I can see the resilient red rosebush that grows in the garden just outside my window, and I often find …

The young woman looked at me with concern in her eyes. “So how are you handling this? Do you feel you are coping okay? Is there anything we can provide you?”

No, this was not a social worker at the oncology clinic I frequent. I was not being asked these questions as a patient at all. I was being asked these questions as a caregiver for my elderly aunt.

I have been my Aunt Ginger’s caregiver, first informally, then formally, for the last three years. In recent weeks, the caregiving duties …

I have been on a long journey so far since my diagnosis with myeloma in 2009. Through all of my treatments and recovery from injuries, my family and friends have been at my side.

In particular, my husband Dilip has made it a top priority to help me. He is a true ‘care giver,’ not only in his work as a physician, but as my spouse and father to our two daughters. We have been married for 36 years, and the phrase from our wedding vows, ’in sickness and in health,’ …

After writing with a broad brush about caregivers from a patient’s perspective last month, I promised to “think back and dig deep to remember how I felt and coped when I wore a caregiver’s hat” while I watched over and tried to help my lovely wife, Pattie, while she battled her cancer.

Being cared-for by my wife – and having taken care of her while she battled three different cancers for over six years – I have a somewhat unique perspective on caregiving.

I also interact with other patients and caregivers …