In Sickness
Listen in as Allison Breininger and Justin Bajema, millennial caregivers for their chronically ill spouses, speak honestly about what life is like when there are more days spent in sickness than in health.
Episodes
When the person you're caring for has a rare disease, there can be extra layers of hardship and complexity starting with the challenge of finding a diagnosis. In this episode, Allison shares with Justin what it has been like to care for her husband whose disease is rare and the two discuss what this type of caregiving can look like.
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Join us for an online support group related to this episode on Sunday, February 15, from 6:00-7:...
In this episode, Allison shares with Justin what life is currently like in her community with the presence of 2000+ ICE agents, how this intersects with her reality as a caregiver, and how it feels to live in this moment while also preparing for Sean's upcoming surgery.
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Join us for an online support group related to this episode on Sunday, January 25, from 6:00-7:15pm CT. Register Here!
At the start of a new year, it's common for people to reflect on the highlights of the last twelve months and to set goals for the year ahead. For caregivers, moments like these can be a stark reminder that their lives are very different from those of their peers. In this episode, Justin and Allison talk about what it's like to see their friends' highlight reels and how it feels to move into another year of caregiving.
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On January 1, 2026, Minnesota will become the thirteenth state to offer Paid Family Leave. In this episode, Allison and Justin talk with Cathy McLeer from AARP about how this new law benefits caregivers, how we can support other states in adopting this law, and other ways AARP supports caregivers of all ages.
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PFML for caregivers in Minnesota
Caregivers frequently find themselves needing to make split second decisions that are, in some cases, matters of life and death. In this episode, Justin and Allison talk about decisions they have had to make, the role their personality types play in those moments, and how supporters can help.
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Join us for an online support group related to this episode on Sunday, December 14, from 6:00-7:15pm CT. Register Here!
Allison's mom, Barbara, plays an active role in supporting Allison's entire family, from joining them at the ER to helping with household tasks to providing emotional support. In this episode, Justin and Allison talk with her about what this looks like on a daily basis, how it feels to witness her daughter go through hard things, and how this third ring role is often unseen.
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Justin and Allison came together on stage at CaregiverCON in Minneapolis on November 1, 2025 for a live recording of this episode. They discussed how they met and the impact of finding friendships and support within the caregiving community.
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Join us for an online support group related to this episode on Tuesday, November 18, from 6:00-7:15pm CT. Register Here!
There are moments in caregiving - an appointment, scan or biopsy results, an accident, etc. - that send our lives down a new path. In this episode, Justin and Allison talk about crossroads moments they've experienced, what it can feel like when you know those moments are looming, and how supporters can help.
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Join us for an online support group related to this episode on Wednesday, November 5, from 6:00-7:15pm CT. Register Here...
Allison and Justin have a frank conversation about what it feels like now that their caregiving lives are at such different stages: with Allison enduring ongoing crises and Justin no longer considering himself an active caregiver. They also discuss what they have heard from caregivers whose loved one has passed away about the grief they have experienced at no longer feeling at home with their caregiver friends.
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Justin and Allison have each been caregiving for more than a decade. In this episode, they talk about how things have changed for them as they've gotten older, learned things about themselves and the health care system, and had countless experiences, both positive and negative.
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Join us for an online support group related to this episode on Wednesday, October 1, from 6:00-7:15pm CT. Register Here!
After a summer full of surgeries and hospitalizations for her husband, Allison reflects on what it felt like in the days and weeks after those crises as she recovered from all they went through. She and Justin share what those moments can feel like, what they have found to be helpful, and how supporters can help.
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Join us for an online support group related to this episode on Monday, September 15, from 6:00-7:15pm CT. Register ...
In this episode, Allison and Justin speak with Alec Wendelboe, Education and Outreach Coordinator for the MN Brain Injury Alliance and MN Stroke Association about how people living with chronic conditions and those who are caregiving have a higher likelihood of experiencing suicidal ideation. They discuss why this is, what that may look and feel like, and where to get support.
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Justin and Allison both care not only for their spouses, but also pets in their homes. In this episode, they talk about the process of deciding to add pets to their families and the ups and downs they've experienced since, specifically related to their caregiving role.
Jessica Kim was the primary caregiver for her mother with pancreatic cancer and later her father with congestive heart failure, both of whom lived their final years in her home. In this conversation, Jessica shares how these two caregiving scenarios impacted her life, family, and home, how she managed her relationship with her siblings throughout, and how this role inspired her to create ianacare.
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The first line of the "I'm Part of the Story" song written by Priscilla Momah for The Negative Space "I'm supposed to be the strong one that rises up when the storm comes," inspired this conversation in which Justin and Allison talk about how caregivers commonly feel or are told that they need to be strong.
Priscilla Momah is a soul-nourishing song weaver who supports healing and community through the power of sound and music. In this episode, she talks with Justin and Allison about how music and sound can support caregivers and those they are caring for.
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Join us for an online support group related to this episode on Monday, June 9 from 6:00-7:15om CT. Regis...
In this episode, Allison and Justin discuss what their lives may have looked like if their partners had not ever gotten sick, the good things that have come from being on this path, and the parts they would never have chosen to experience.
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Join us for an online support group related to this episode on Tuesday May 27 from 6:00-7:15om CT. Register Here!
Becoming a caregiver can flip life on its head, upending so much of what we thought we knew and could count on. In this episode, Justin and Allison talk about all the ways caregiving has left them feeling dizzy and unmoored over the years and present some strategies they have found to be helpful.
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Join us for an online support group related to this episode on Monday, May 12 from 6:00-7:15om CT. Register Here!
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A terrible car accident left Kelly Lang and her young daughter with Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI). In this episode, she shares what happened and what it has been like parenting a child with a TBI while living with one herself.
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The time, energy, and money that is involved with caregiving can often mean that hobbies a caregiver used to enjoy are no longer available to them. In this episode, Allison and Justin talk about hobbies they used to have, ones that are new since becoming caregivers, and ones that have been adapted. Also included are clips and quotes from caregivers of all kinds who submitted their thoughts on this topic.
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