Our Story

We will never forget that day in March.

My sister and I rushed our mom to the emergency room, convinced that what we were seeing was just a side effect of a new medication.

We sat in the ER waiting, thinking this would be routine.

It wasn’t.

When the doctor returned, he delivered the news that changed our world forever:

“Your mother has leukemia.”

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Everything Changed in a Moment

Until that day, our mom was an active 76-year-old — a grandmother, a business owner, a seamstress, a gardener, someone who was fully engaged in life.

She and our dad were always on the move — casino trips, family time, and a constant presence in our lives.

We never thought of them as “old.”

We knew, of course, that one day they would be.

But we never imagined that day would arrive like this.

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Becoming Caregivers Overnight

In that moment, everything shifted.

Our parents became aging parents.

And without realizing it, we became caregivers.

Our lives quickly turned into a constant cycle of:

Doctor’s appointments
Chemo treatments
Managing medications
Coordinating care
Preparing meals
Running errands

All while trying to balance our own lives — our homes, children, our husbands, and our full-time jobs.

At the same time, we had our 82 year old dad to care for, their household to maintain, responsibilities to manage, and a life that had also just changed.

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Feeling Unprepared and Alone

Our journey as caregivers lasted for nine years.

And throughout that time, we kept asking ourselves:

Why do we feel so lost in this?
Why were we so unprepared?
Why does it have to be this way?

The answer was simple:

There is no clear path that prepares you for this role.

No one teaches adult children how to become caregivers.

Until it happens.

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A Journey That Continued

Our mom’s journey ended quickly — just five months after her diagnosis.

We were not prepared for her loss.

We had never talked about death as a family.

So when that moment came, we struggled through:

Making funeral arrangements
Finding her resting place
Managing finances
Supporting our dad
And processing our grief

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And Then, It Happened Again

About a year later, our dad suffered a stroke.

He became legally blind and was no longer able to return home.

Once again, we were faced with decisions we were not prepared to make:

Where would he live?
Should we renovate his home or sell it?
Which one of us would he move in with?
How would we manage his care, finances, and medical needs?

All while continuing to live our own lives.

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Different Paths, Shared Experience

Although we were co-caregivers, my sister carried the majority of the responsibility.

She sacrificed years of her life caring for our dad.

Today, her focus is on reclaiming that time — reconnecting with her husband, being present for her children, and rediscovering herself.

For me, the journey has taken a different path.

Continuing this work without her has been challenging — but it has also strengthened my commitment.

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Why This Was Created

We believe there is a better way.

More awareness.
Better preparation.
Access to the right information at the right time.

There are resources out there.

But most people don’t know where to find them — until they are already overwhelmed.

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The Purpose of Homecoming Bootcamp

The Homecoming Bootcamp was created from this experience.

Not from theory.

But from real life.

It’s designed to help families feel more prepared than we did — to understand what to expect, what needs to be done, and how to navigate the transition when a parent returns home from the hospital or rehab.

Because this journey will look different for everyone.

But no one should have to go through it feeling completely unprepared.

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