"I wake up and always have that faith, that strength, I don't know where it comes from," said Mercedes Silva, her father's primary caregiver . Only someone who does the same job as her knows the strength that lifts them up every day to do their work.
This is how we met Mercedes Silva, a 50-year-old woman who lives in Nicaragua and cares for Mr. Neri Concepción Silva Castillo, 80. The man lives with psoriasis, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and diabetic neuropathy .
"I went from being such a dynamic person, working the streets and earning a salary, to the complete transformation of being my father's caregiver. It's becoming routine, but I'm infinitely grateful to God and my inner strength."
The woman shared this on the social platformVida de Cuidador , in a talk moderated by Julieta Machuca, the brand's public relations manager.
We share the highlights of that meeting with you. You'll find the video of the talk below.
The challenges of being a caregiver
Mercedes also cares for her mother, who can still walk. So she's focused more on her father. "For a caregiver, it's a lot more effort. We have to carry him and help him with almost all the tasks a normal person can do," she said.
Although she had volunteered in nursing homes for a few years, her work as a caregiver began in 2018, following prostate surgery on her father.
"He's been deteriorating over the years. He also has wear on one of his spinal vertebrae, and he's completely lost mobility in his lower extremities ."
That same year, Mercedes became unemployed, but that didn't stop her... especially when her father began to require more help .
"One door closes, but another opens. My father was going to need me, and I developed attributes I never imagined I could possess."
For Silva, who has worked as a saleswoman since she was 17, becoming a full-time caregiver represented a profound change. “It was a complete turnaround. But it's a labor of love. When you understand the situation, you know it could happen to you one day .”
And she added: "It may seem like the end of the world to someone who can't walk or who is overly demanding and tired. But if you prepare yourself mentally, prepare your heart, and seek those gifts I never imagined developing with my dad... it's one of the greatest jobs you can have on Earth : to help my dad meet all his needs."
Caregivers and obstacles of all kinds
Finances have also been a challenge for Mercedes and her family, who currently have two sources of income: the fixed salary of one of their children and the pension that Don Neri Concepción receives.
But even in the worst moments, this woman maintains a positive attitude. “Suddenly, when we're running out of money, I see miracles. And I do it because I wake up with faith. I thank God and the various angels who appear along the way , because we are not alone.”
Of course, there are moments of weakness, especially during the various moments when the body and emotions are pushed to the limit. Mercedes knows this firsthand and shares how she copes.
“That's something every caregiver develops. In my case, I don't see it as a burden. If you think caring for your dad is a burden, you're going to feel bad all day. Deep down, there's no complaint. I always arrive with a positive attitude , even though I have a lot of things going on behind me,” she commented.
Support that transcends distance
The miles that separate people will never be an obstacle to supporting them. Especially in the situation Don Neri is experiencing, because due to the heat in Managua and having to stay in bed or sit, he has developed ulcers on his tailbone.
After learning her story, Mercedes received all kinds of care items to make the task of caring for Neri easier and increase her comfort.
Received a TheraPressure Cushion (to prevent bedsores), a TheraWave Gel Mattress Topper (for comfortable sleeping), and a TheraSafe Waterproof (waterproof seat protector).
It's also from a distance that this woman has sought ways to do her job better: "Although it's not easy, it can be done with a positive attitude. I've also learned from other caregivers, because we never stop learning, and that's how we help each other."
She added: “You also read a lot of negative things, about family members not wanting to help care for them or feeling very tired. I strongly believe in the power of prayer . You have to pray before speaking so that the family member can help you in this task. There's a lot of lack of empathy with caregivers.”
Caring as a healing task
With her testimony, Mercedes Silva has taught us that caring is an act of love, but also of great compassion. "I always come to them with a positive attitude, because in a way, we alleviate the situation they find themselves in ."
Theramart, through Vida de Cuidador, is providing a boost to highlighting the stories of all caregivers in Latin America.
“It's a pleasure for me to take care of my dad. I do it with so much love. Every day I develop more love . I see miracles in his life, my mom's, my own, and my children's.”
And he closed with a powerful message for all those caregivers who have gone through physical and emotional difficulties:
“ The work you do is immense for the person you care for. We receive the gifts we receive because they are necessary to have that love and patience in caring for them. You will be rewarded, and if you seek miracles, they will be there. Cheer up, everyone! Don't give up; pray for that strength and faith so that you wake up every day with a positive attitude. The key is love.”
