Since the start of 2024, I’ve been rediscovering myself—awakening into a life where I honor both the caregiver I’ve become and the individual I am. Eight years ago, my husband, PenDell, underwent a profound transformation. While he emerged renewed, I found myself adapting to a new role—caregiver, provider, supporter—leaving little room to process my own journey.

As PenDell found his strength and settled into his new way of being, I remained in survival mode, always doing—supporting him, bringing joy, and seeking experiences that wouldn’t overwhelm his nervous system. I poured so much of myself into our shared life that I forgot to grieve the parts of him that didn’t return from his transformation.

This year, I realized that grief was the missing step in my own healing—a tender acknowledgment of loss amidst gratitude for the beautiful person still here with me. Slowly, I’m learning to nurture myself, reclaiming joy and reconnecting with forgotten passions. I’m finding moments to care for my body and to be present in my own life, like a butterfly emerging from its chrysalis, unfurling gracefully into the sunlight of new possibilities.