For Those Who Care

Send us Fan Mail Most people don't dream of changing dirty diapers or spending 24/7 caring for a loved one who's ill. It's not glamorous, and at times, it feels overwhelming. Yet, these tasks are often part of a bigger purpose — a purpose some might even call a sacred calling. In this episode, Jenna and RuthAnn dive deep into how they found meaning and purpose in the middle of life&...

Send us Fan Mail We can't control every aspect of our lives, but we can control how we respond to it. Chaos is inevitable, and how we react to the chaos can sometimes dictate our outcome. Join Jenna and RuthAnn for this episode where they share what they each incorporated into their lives that helped them find peace in the chaos. "Take a Deep Breath" or "Just Breathe" give...

Send us Fan Mail What makes a person strong? It isn't something we are born with. So where do we find strength? Join Jenna and RuthAnn for this candid conversation where they share what they gained through the challenges they faced in each of their lives. They also offer advice on how to respond to someone going through a challenging situation, and why saying "You're so strong"...

Send us Fan Mail Living with an illness or disability shouldn't mean that you have to give up everything and just stay at home. Travel was something that Lance and RuthAnn continued to enjoy for many years after Lance became disabled, but it took a while to figure out a system that worked. Join RuthAnn and Jenna as they offer travel tips when dealing with a disability. The first few minutes f...

Send us Fan Mail Continuing from the previous episode, RuthAnn shares how she adapted the house to her husband's needs in an effort to help him maintain some of his independence and also allow him to contribute to the household. An important point made is that your home needs to work for you in whatever your life looks like. Do not allow other people's opinions to influence how you set t...

Send us Fan Mail If you became a caregiver tomorrow, would you be prepared? Join RuthAnn and Jenna for this conversation where they share practical tips and advice to help keep you organized while caring for your loved one. RuthAnn talks specifically about some of the things she did as caregiver to her husband, and Jenna offers her perspective as a single mom. This information will be helpful to c...

Send us Fan Mail It's hard to know how much to share with people when you or someone you love becomes ill. In this episode RuthAnn talks about going through several stages with Lance's illness. Each stage required different levels of care, and that determined how much they shared and who they shared the details with.  As a caregiver your life is often affected just as much as, if not mor...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode RuthAnn and Jenna talk about some of the challenges of caring for someone with dementia, memory loss, and behavioral changes. Lance was only 39 when he was diagnosed with dementia so people often did not believe that he had it.  Join RuthAnn and Jenna for this candid conversation, a few light hearted moments, and an inside look at the ways that dementia and memory...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode RuthAnn and Jenna talk about kindness, especially the kindness of strangers. RuthAnn shares some specific encounters with people that had a positive impact on her. Join RuthAnn and Jenna for this conversation where they discuss alternate ways to respond to someone who seems unfriendly or rude. RuthAnn mentions that people often responded to the look on her face, us...

Send us Fan Mail This episode is about having cheerleaders in your life and the positive impact they have. No, this is not about people with pom poms. But that image is a good way to think about what a cheerleader is, "I'm here to believe in you until you can believe in yourself." What does it mean to be a cheerleader? It does not require being loud. It can be as simple as sitting w...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode RuthAnn talks about how she and Lance were able to find joy in the holidays despite all the challenges they faced with his declining health. She shares some of her favorite holiday memories, and that she finds joy in looking back on those times now. Listen in to RuthAnn and Jenna's conversation about holiday traditions. RuthAnn talks about learning to adapt to...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode RuthAnn and Jenna talk about some of the challenges of getting through the holidays while dealing with a disability, chronic illness, or loss of a loved one. It can be difficult celebrating with people who do not understand. RuthAnn shares some of the challenges she and Lance faced, and how she is coping with the holiday season after his death. Listen in to RuthAnn...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode RuthAnn opens up about what it feels like to move forward after living such an isolated life and feeling invisible behind Lance's wheelchair. People are often surprised at how intimidating newfound freedom can be.  RuthAnn and Jenna discuss the challenges in redefining your purpose and integrating your past with your future. Listen in to this conversation wher...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode RuthAnn talks about her experience with Broken Heart Syndrome. She describes what it felt like and how she moved forward through the pain and grief. In the beginning she thought she would never get past it and wasn't sure if she even wanted to live.  RuthAnn shares how people stopped saying Lance's name and it began to feel like he never existed. Listen i...

Send us Fan Mail Join RuthAnn and Jenna as they talk about how much the world has changed in recent years. In this episode RuthAnn shares her experience of trying to get back to normal living after decades of caregiving. She and Lance were still listening to music on iPods and she didn’t even know about streaming music. The world seemed alien to her, and she experienced reverse culture shock as sh...

Send us Fan Mail Grieving the loss of the love of your life is difficult enough, but grieving during the pandemic was almost unbearable. The entire world was isolating and dealing with their own losses and grief. RuthAnn shares the early days of how she dealt with her grief and the steps she took to move forward. She talks about some of the problems she experienced, including brain fog, feeling li...

Send us Fan Mail Join RuthAnn and Jenna for a very personal glimpse into the healing journey of grief. In this emotional episode, RuthAnn shares part of her audio/video journal three years after Lance passed away, and an episode recorded a few months later that highlights some of the struggles of moving forward after long term caregiving has ended.  Grief is hard to comprehend until you have lost...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, RuthAnn talks about finding it difficult to maintain her identity when she was a caregiver, about being defined as just a caregiver, being defined as a widow now, and why those terms are bothersome.  RuthAnn and Jenna talk about how terms used to describe what people do can define them too narrowly. Experiences shape us but they do not tell the whole story of who...

Send us Fan Mail In this candid episode, RuthAnn shares some deeply personal experiences while caring for Lance, a journey that began when they were both in their 20s. Facing challenges that set them apart from their peers, RuthAnn and Lance struggled to find understanding and support from those around them. Many people only wanted to hear positive updates, leaving them feeling isolated and unable...

Send us Fan Mail Join RuthAnn and Jenna as they dive into the world of self-care and why it is essential for your physical, spiritual, and emotional well-being. In this episode they explore what self-care truly means and discuss what qualifies as genuine self-care. Listen in as RuthAnn and Jenna share their personal journeys to identifying true self-care practices and offer practical tips on how t...

Send us Fan Mail In this heartwarming episode, Ruthann and Jenna share the story of their unexpected friendship. Initially meeting on a professional basis, they seemed worlds apart. However, as they got to know each other, they discovered many shared connections. Jenna’s entire family soon became part of the journey, spending quality time with Ruthann and Lance. Through their story, they hope to i...

Send us Fan Mail In this heartfelt episode, we delve into the poignant and often humorous journey of Lance and RuthAnn as they navigated the challenges of dementia. RuthAnn shares her personal story of coming to terms with Lance’s diagnosis, the adjustments she made to support him, and the unexpected moments of joy and laughter that brightened their days. Join us for an intimate look at their jour...

Send us Fan Mail In this engaging episode of "For Those Who Care", RuthAnn and Jenna dive into the concept of true hope. Unlike blind optimism, true hope is a grounded, realistic force that helps you navigate life’s toughest challenges. RuthAnn shares her personal journey alongside Lance, revealing how they cultivated this type of hope in their lives. They explore the vital role of a sup...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we continue the story as Lance leaves town to report for duty with the U.S. Navy. Despite the distance, Lance and RuthAnn spend countless hours on the phone, revealing their true feelings for each other. During a three-day visit, RuthAnn and Lance begin to plan their future together. Tune in to hear how their love deepens and their dreams take shape, even in the f...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we follow Lance’s arrival in Denver and the beginning of his life with RuthAnn—though they often find themselves apart. Their journey takes a dramatic turn with Lance’s diagnosis of Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis, followed by a second diagnosis of Erdheim-Chester Disease, leading to disability retirement in their 30s. This episode delves into the details of their 2...