Celebrating Caregivers Month

Have you heard? President Obama named November “NATIONAL FAMILY CAREGIVERS MONTH, 2012.” Caregivers have always been close to our hearts, but even more so following the launch of the Tony Snow and Betty Jo Caregiver Network late last summer.

The proclamation from the White House calls out the sacrifices made by caregivers while they put their lives on hold to care for family members and loved ones.

Across America, daughters and sons balance the work of caring for aging parents with the demands of their careers and raising their own children. Spouses and partners become caregivers to the ones they love even as they navigate their own health challenges. Mothers and fathers resume care for children returning home as wounded warriors. Friends and relatives form networks to support loved ones with disabilities. All of them give selflessly to bring comfort, social engagement, and stability to those they love.

~President Obama, Presidential Proclamation — National Family Caregivers Month, 2012

We echo the president’s sentiments and want to take this opportunity to recognize the caregivers in our midst. For each Survivor or In Loving Memory story posted on our website there are countless people who helped each of these people through their journey with colon cancer.  For all the people who have shared their story as part of “Faces of Blue” we know there are exponentially more people who act as the strength and encouragement for these individuals.

The Tony Snow & Betty Jo Caregiver Network was created to provide support to the countless number of people caring for loved ones with colon cancer. With your help, beginning in June 2013, we plan to offer one-time grants to caregivers that will help them with unexpected expenses and support services. In the meantime, we are facilitating peer support through a closed group on Facebook. Caregivers are invited to join and find a community of people who understand the struggles and offer support for those in all parts of the journey.

This was not the first year the White House has recognized Caregivers in the month of November. It began in 1997 with President Clinton signed the first proclamation. Last year’s proclamation ends with this from President Obama.

 This month and throughout the year, let the quiet perseverance of our family caregivers remind us of the decency and kindness to which we can all aspire.

~President Obama, Presidential Proclamation — National Family Caregivers Month, 2011

 We agree. Caregivers are some of the most selfless kind people we have ever had the pleasure of working with.