I Saved You. Now, Do the Dishes

In this episode of I Saved You. Now, Do the Dishes., I’m sounding the alarm for caregivers walking the brutal line between cancer treatment and pain management. This one is personal. My husband had just been prescribed opioids for pain. And nobody gave him any additional or alternative instructions for days he had chemo. No one warned us about side effects chemo has with Oxy.

This episode outlines the fourth, and last time...

This week, I take you inside one of the hardest chapters of our journey—Week Five. My husband was deep in the trenches of treatment for head and neck cancer, and everything was unraveling. He could barely speak, eat, or drink, and his body was giving out.

As his caregiver and medical advocate, I was doing everything I could to keep him alive—but we didn’t agree on how to do that. He didn’t want a feeding tube. I knew he would...

In this episode of I Saved You. Now, Do the Dishes., I pull back the curtain on the chaotic world of cancer treatment scheduling and pain management. Spoiler: it’s less “organized care plan” and more “full-time logistical nightmare.” From juggling 12 appointments in a week to coordinating three different pharmacy pick-ups (yes, really) for five different drugs, I talk about what it’s like to be the caregiver, the calendar, and...

In this episode of the I Saved You. Now, Do the Dishes podcast, I open up about the unexpected challenges of caregiving in a hospital setting—specifically, the overwhelming and overstimulating experience of the chemo floor. From the constant beeping of machines to the emotional weight of the space, I share how it all became too much and what I did (or didn’t do) to cope. If you’ve ever felt like you were drowning in the noise ...

In this episode of I Saved You. Now, Do the Dishes., I share how I discovered unexpected silver linings throughout my husband’s cancer journey, as well as my alter ego (hello, Spicy Viking!). 

And, even though I shared the importance of finding simple joys in episode five, I dive in a bit more in this episode. Finding small, simple joys that brighten even the darkest days is important as a caregiver. 

As always, I'm raw and ...

In this episode of the I Saved You. Now, Do the Dishes podcast, I share my thoughts around a recent AARP article about what to know before becoming a caregiver to your spouse—and why it left me feeling disappointed. While the article offers practical insights, I thought it was insensitive and degrading toward caregivers. The raw, human reality of what it means to stand by your partner through illness is shared by every generat...

In this episode of the I Saved You. Now, Do the Dishes Podcast, I respond to some of the comments I’ve received on previous episodes—things like “You’re so strong” or “I couldn’t have done that.” 

I reflect on what those words really mean and why caregivers often don’t feel as strong as they seem. 

I also dive into the emotional toll caregiving takes and why supporting caregivers is so crucial. Plus, I share a tender story a...

When Gavin and I met, he knew of God but didn't have a relationship with Him. Early on in our relationship, I told him that if we stayed together, we'd have to find a church together. 

And that became something I felt deep down in my spirit. 

Get to church. 

I found one and knew it was our community before I got out of the car. 

In January 2023, Gavin was so moved by our pastor that he left church and went straight to the ...

In this deeply personal episode of the I Saved You. Now Do The Dishes Podcast. I share the raw truth about learning to surrender—to the uncertainty, the pain, and the moments in between—while my husband battled through cancer treatment. 

As his pain intensified and narcotics became a necessity, I had to navigate not just the timing of his pain management doses, his calorie intake, and all his treatment appointments but also t...

In this episode of I Saved You. Now Do the Dishes Podcast, I step fully into my caregiver alter ego—the no-nonsense, get-it-done version of myself who makes sure my husband gets to the hospital after a brutal weekend of ER visits, pain, and exhaustion. I share what it takes to push through when everything feels impossible, the mental gymnastics of managing his care, and my first-ever visit to a pot dispensary in a desperate at...

In this episode of I Saved You. Now Do the Dishes, we dive into the unexpected triggers that come with caregiving—the moments that catch you off guard and leave you reeling. I share a personal story about a panic attack in the middle of the cereal aisle and the unconventional way I calmed myself down (hint: it involves music, a unicorn, and a little dancing). 

I also share practical tips for advocating—whether for yourself or...

Some days change you forever, not gradually, but all at once. 

When you're dealing with cancer, you'll encounter many days like that. In this episode of I Saved You. Now, Do the Dishes, I discuss a few tough days for my husband and me. 

As my husband lay still inside a PET scan machine, which would light up the cancer cells in his body, I was across town on the floor of the vet's office, putting our beloved dog to sleep. Two...

In the second episode of the I Saved You. Now, Do the Dishes Podcast, I take you back to a bittersweet chapter of our lives —our first Thanksgiving in our new home. 

My husband and I poured our hearts into creating a special celebration for our families, even as we anxiously awaited the results of his biopsy. We hadn't heard about his test for two weeks by then. Each day felt like a year. 

I share the shockingly insensitive way ...

In the debut episode of I Saved You. Do the Dishes Podcast, I take you back to the beginning of our story —when I met my husband, Gavin, when we fell in love, and how our union started. 

It wasn't smooth, but when we finally moved into our first home together in September 2023, it felt like a fresh start, full of excitement and endless possibilities—until life threw us a curveball. 

Just as we were finding our footing and gettin...