Vermont Voices

of Serious Illness

 

Hayden describes how he felt when his mom Candis received treatment that turned around her disease course. Candis was just grateful to attend her son's high school graduation.

These two have helped each other immensely through Carrie's cancer treatments. The full recording of their conversation is available in the SoundCloud player below.

There are times when we try to disguise our illness and hope that nobody notices, but Carrie experienced an outpouring of love by embracing her baldness with a conspicuous wig.

Carrie speaks about Addison's high-functioning autism, his gifts as a reader and inquisitive scientist. At the time of her diagnosis, 12-year-old Addison took on many of the responsibilities of caretaker. He speaks now about the challenges of disruption to their routine.

Carrie reads her poem "No" about receiving chemotherapy and "Grace" about her philosophy. Giving back to others helps her through treatments.

Like any five year-old, Andrew just wants to play and have fun. Sure, he has faced some serious health challenges, but that doesn't mean he takes himself too seriously. He is too busy to be sick. We sat down with Andrew and his mother at the UVM Medical Center pediatric inpatient ward to find out what makes him tick.

Kathie and Ron are partners who were diagnosed with lung cancer within six months of each other. We sat down at the Hope Lodge in Burlington to have a conversation about family, dog ownership, and taking care of one another.

This Vermont resident has been taking care of her husband with kidney cancer for nearly ten years. She has seen it all and has some valuable thoughts to share.

Everyone wants to help; no need to be stoic. Just say the word.

Karen's brother lived with paranoid schizophrenia in the Vermont State Hospital.  Karen's full recording is available in the SoundCloud player below.

Karen remembers her father who disappeared from her life. She was able to piece together only some of his history after he died.

It means having a physician who understands, being comfortable and clean, and dying on my own terms.