In this touching episode, join Olivia as she navigates the intricacies of caring for her father, who is battling lung cancer. Despite her own struggles with chronic migraine, Olivia finds unique ways to bring joy and empowerment to her father's life. From daily texts to engaging conversations in her father's native language, Tagalog, each interaction helps build a beautiful relationship of care and connection.

This episode highlights the challenges caregivers face and illuminates the profound impact of creativity and storytelling in fostering resilience and deepening familial bonds.

Among the highlights in this episode:

02:00: Olivia discusses her role in supporting her father with lung cancer, while managing her own chronic condition

03:14: Olivia describes her creative approach to caregiving, such as fostering communication through daily texts and phone calls

06:13: Olivia shares her experience of connecting with her father by practicing Tagalog, her father's native language, highlighting the importance of cultural connection in their relationship

07:54: Dr. Ferguson, Director of Education Development at GHLF, notes the empowering aspect of Olivia's approach, where she enables her father to be the teacher and expert with the practice of Tagalog, enhancing their bond

09:31: Mike Eidsaune, CEO of Caregiving.com, reflects on the impact of Olivia's caregiving approach, emphasizing the significance of small, regular actions and the therapeutic benefits of storytelling in caregiving

11:19: Olivia discusses her passion project – a podcast about Filipino tennis players, starting with her father's story, and how this project enriches their relationship

15:53: Mike discusses the broader implications of Olivia's storytelling approach, including its impact on her father's sense of legacy and the therapeutic benefits for both caregivers and their loved ones

19:01: Olivia shares her philosophy on caregiving, focusing on the importance of finding joy and meaning beyond the illness and diagnosis

21:09: Olivia talks about her personal coping mechanism and source of resilience, including cycling and participating in century rides, drawing parallels between her personal challenges and caregiving

24:30: Mike concludes with key takeaways from Olivia's interview, highlighting the importance of positivity, consistency, and the power of storytelling in caregiving

Contact Our Host

Dr. Laurie Ferguson, Director of Education Development at the Global Healthy Living Foundation: lferguson@ghlf.org

A podcast episode produced by Ben Blanc, Manager of Programs & Special Projects at GHLF.

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