23. James's Journey: Being a caregiver

Hi I’m Krutika and today’s conversation is with James.

When we talk about the parent-child dynamic, we usually imagine the parent as the primary caregiver. That wasn’t the case for James.

From the age of just four, he found himself taking on caring responsibilities after his mum was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis - an autoimmune disease that eventually left her in a coma state when James was still a teenager.

James’s journey is truly remarkable, not just because of what he’s been through, but because of how he reflects on it. He shares his experiences with a quiet stoicism and without complaint, showing a level of resilience that’s genuinely admirable.

In this conversation, we explore what being a carer meant for him, how a breakthrough led to James unpacking those experiences, and how life came full circle when he later found himself caring for his dad after a stage four cancer diagnosis during Covid. Experiences like these could understandably leave someone feeling bitter, but that’s not James. He speaks with a deep sense of gratitude and a perspective on life that I found truly enlightening.

Chapters

(00:00) Introduction

(03:10) James's childhood

(07:34) Understanding Multiple Sclerosis

(14:23) The impact of caregiving

(17:58) Navigating teenage years

(27:30) Navigating caregiving

(30:19) The dark night of the soul

(34:39) Caring for my father

(49:32) Looking Ahead

(51:31) Conclusion

Connect with me:

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/journeyswithkrutika

If you have a journey you'd like to share I'd love to hear from you, email me at journeyswithkrutika@gmail.com

Connect with James: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesperryconsulting?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app