Pattie

Dot

It wasn’t easy.  As Dot’s parents grew older and faced health issues, juggling her responsibilities became challenging. Pattie found herself in a similar situation when her father had a stroke. Navigating those times with love, patience and understanding helped them through it.

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

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. in the Community Room at Camarillo Public Library, 4101 Las Posas Road. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. There is no charge for admission, but you must pre-register by calling 805-388-1952 as seated is limited.

Elizabeth

“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

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.

Pattie’s story is about becoming a family caregiver for her father 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.”

Leslie

“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.”

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’ll find on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and our website.

Michelle Rogers is Community Outreach and Education manager at the Camarillo Health Care District. She can be reached at micheller@camhealth.com or 805-388-1952, ext. 116.

Michelle Rogers