A Season of Caring Podcast

Best of 2025: Stories of Hope with Jackie Freeman

Rayna Neises Episode 231

Send us a text

What if the hardest part of caregiving isn’t the tasks, but letting go of control? We sit down with writer and caregiver advocate Jackie Freeman, who walked a rare dual path: caring for her father through Alzheimer’s while supporting her husband through a seven-year battle with glioblastoma. Jackie’s story is equal parts tender and practical, revealing how small choices—like waiting an extra 30 seconds so her dad could process—can restore dignity, reduce conflict, and deepen connection.

Across this conversation, we unpack the shift from fixer to faithful companion. Jackie shares how a medical notebook keeps chaos in check, why “Perry’s time” became a north star for memory care, and how reclaiming friendships gave her husband purpose beyond illness. She reframes hospice as a gift that expands support and protects the caregiver’s strength, opening windows for church, study, and simple breaths of fresh air. We talk about love languages relearned during treatment, the power of validation over correction, and how presence, not perfection, becomes the truest expression of love.

Faith runs through every scene, from breath prayers in the bathroom to journal entries that trace grace across the hardest days. Jackie’s warmth and candor offer both permission and a plan: accept help, invest in respite, and choose rituals that nourish the soul. If you’re carrying the sacred weight of caregiving—whether you feel unseen, exhausted, or just in need of a new rhythm—this conversation offers practical tools and hope you can use today.

Subscribe for more stories that blend honest caregiving wisdom with spiritual renewal, and share this episode with someone who needs encouragement right now. Your review helps more caregivers find the support they deserve.