Mercedes from Kentucky

I became a caretaker for my grandmother, Monica, because I wanted to pay forward for the way she took care of me as a child. My grandmother has been my everything. She's always been a constant light in my life. I've devoted so much of my time taking care of her and I wouldn't change it for the world. As a child, I was always constantly marching to the beat of my own drum. While others thought I was strange, my grandmother saw me as unique and creative. It was because of this mindset that I grew up to be open minded of others. With caring for my grandmother, I've found that the most difficult thing is that her pride can sometimes get in the way. She's a very proud woman and I can respect that but it has led to her hurting herself when she tries to do something on her own. I've had to sit down and talk with her about this and we've come up with a guideline. For smaller things such as reading, doing puzzles, eating, and cleaning herself she is allowed to do that on her own. For bigger things such as reaching things, driving, or carrying heavy items, I will be the one to help her. Grandma, I love you.