FOUNDHER PODCAST EPISODE SIX -LIfe's curveballs

This episode is the first of two episodes where D and Heather get personal about things that have happened in their life that are out of their control. 

Heather opens the topic with, "What good is your story if you keep it to yourself?" 

They are grateful to discuss how to deal with things when life goes out of control. They emphasize that no one handles situations and feelings the same, so you should never compare your story with someone else. This goes for if you're dealing with an unexpected situation or if someone you know is going through something. The best thing to do to be there for someone is to be present, listen, and help where you can. 

Heather opens the floor for D to share the story of her mom passing a little after their first year in business. 

D mentions that losing a parent is something that everyone will have to deal with at some point in life, but you never want to be there and go through it. 

D discusses how she lost her mom to dementia in 2019. Her mom hid it well, and it turned out she had been hiding it for seven years. D mentions how they would find notes, which she calls "bread crumbs," that would be mixed in with her tasks as reminders to call someone and ask them how they're doing. D is grateful that her mom never acted like she didn't know them, but D says she thinks she always knew who they were. 

The passing of her mother led D to create the Trust the Light Foundation. Their goal is to provide resources to caregivers of patients with Dementia and Alzheimer's. D, her sister, and her dad were trying to come up with a name. Where her mom grew up, she faced the Boston lighthouse which was very significant to her. During the week leading up to her passing, she found one of her books where she had circled writing that said "I trust you, Jesus." When they were in the hospital, a lady walked in and gave her a note and it said the same thing on it. 

The verse, "Trust the Lord with all your heart." is super important to D and was something she leaned on during this time in her life.

Heather brings up how many God winks are in D's story and D recounts how when they went into the ICU, the clock was stopped at 6:48, and after that, everyone in her family would hold their breath any time they saw that time. D had to go home, and she mentioned how sometimes people can't pass if they have unfinished business. She had made it back home and her dad called to let her know her mom passed, and it was 6:48. 

Heather asks D more about her foundation, and what made her want to start one in the first place. 

D remembers how hard it was on her dad, and wished he was able to be taken care of while he was taking care of her mom. They discuss how the greatest gift you can give someone with dementia or Alzheimer's is keeping them at home, in a routine, and a safe environment. 

D is starting the foundation to give resources to caregivers so they can have a break without stopping care for their patients and also to help with the grieving process after the person in their care passes.

Heather mentions D didn't have time to grieve because she was pregnant with twins, and D mentions that she doesn't recall a lot from that time, but only gets outwardly emotional from Easter to Mother's Day. 

Heather asks how D was able to go through all of this and still run their business, and she says that she really tried to keep checking on everyone because Heather was also going through her own situation at the time. They both were able to just keep working hard to achieve what they've built today.

No Questions Off Limits:

What advice would you give your 8-year-old or 18-year-old self? 

D says that time is precious. She tries to say "yes" to so much more now. She said that the bottom line is time is the most important thing we have.