Sometimes My Heart Goes Numb

What is a caregiver? Some people are born to the position; some embrace caregiving to heal their own wounds; some have caregiving thrust upon them by life circumstances. In each case, caring for a patient, client, relative, or friend carries its own rewards and its own burdens. Here are twenty compelling portraits of exemplary caregivers accompanied by insightful commentaries on the skills to be learned from each individual's story. Honest, funny, poignant, wise, and always inspiring, these accounts help to demystify the caregiving process and to reveal: the impact of increased hope and surviving long-termhow to avoid bereavement overload and compassion fatiguethe importance of setting healthy limitsNow that AIDS has two faces - that of a terminal disease and, thanks to new drug treatments, possibly that of a chronic illness - the role of caregivers grows ever more complex. Fortunately for us, the men and women in these pages talk candidly about the risks and gifts of supporting someone with a life-challenging illness; their boldness and humility show all of us how to truly make a difference in the lives of the people we love, now and into the future.