WALKING RESTORED MY HOPE & HAS MADE ME A BETTER CAREGIVER

As a retired nurse, Cathline DeWitt, 74, has spent a lifetime taking care of others. But when a bicycle accident left her husband paralyzed, wheelchair-bound and in need of constant assistance, she struggled to juggle a host of new responsibilities. Then Cathline discovered the healing power of carving out time for herself, and the simple habit that helps her find joy every day.

- GINA ROBERTS-GREY

Thanks for checking in on me! typed Cathline DeWitt as she sent a quick message to her walking buddies before clipping on her Chihuahuas' leashes and lacing up her sneakers. What once felt like a chore, after suddenly being the only one to exercise the pups several times a day, had now become a lifeline. It was important that Cathline take time to maintain her physical, emotional and mental well-being as a full-time caregiver to her husband following a devastating accident. Here, Cathline shares in her own words how she learned to adjust, accept and thrive-one step at a time.

"When I set out on the path of being a nurse at age 16, I knew that caring for others was my passion. And after retiring from nursing in 2012, I've continued to serve in volunteer roles. However, despite 58 years of training and hands-on care, I didn't realize just how impactful self-care truly is-that it can actually save your life—until I was faced with becoming the primary caregiver for my beloved husband, Pat, following his traumatic brain injury in September of 2023.

"When Pat left home that fateful day to go on a 60-mile bicycle ride, like he had hundreds of times before, I expected him to walk back through the door hours later, jubilant about his ride. Instead, I got a call that he was rushed to a hospital in critical condition. "Pat had suffered an accident that left him paralyzed on the right side. In an instant, our entire life was turned upside down.