From the Caregiver's HAErt – a Column by Danita LaShelle Jones

How to guard against the crash after doing too much

Although I’d prepared for the worst-case scenario, I stared at the ceiling, baffled that I was living what I’d anticipated would happen. Curtain for my play was in four hours, and I was less than 24 hours postpartum after giving birth to our twins. In 2010, after a church in…

The unsung heroes of hereditary angioedema treatment

For months, a marketing team did an excellent job building up one of the most incredible hip-hop collaborations. Even critics of the genre couldn’t help but wonder what the 2022 Super Bowl halftime show would produce. Finally, after the players returned to their locker rooms and the commentators…

Let’s Give Them Legends to Talk About

As a writer, I can’t help but get excited about a good legend. No, not the campfire kind that seeks to terrify children as they stare off into the night. I’m talking about the stories that start as true but become legends when retold, as additional elements make them more…

Why Complicate Things When There’s a Simple Explanation?

If you’re ever having a conversation with a film enthusiast, eventually, they will mention the brilliance behind Steven Spielberg’s “Jaws.” In “Jaws,” the fictional town of Amity Island faces growing tragedy when an oversized great white shark starts terrorizing beachgoers. After an incompetent mayor refuses to close the…

Ignoring the Symptoms of Illness That Have Always Been There

“You’re bleeding!” an exasperated character usually pants out to the main character. Then, the main character will open their jacket to reveal a dark red spot on their otherwise white clothing, gasp out a determined, “I don’t have time to bleed,” and continue fighting armed henchmen. In some movies, the…

How Endless Circles Can Lead to Frustration

“It’s how much?” I asked the salesperson in disbelief. “Six hundred and seventy-three dollars,” he repeated, as if it didn’t sound ridiculous. I was baffled. During the summer before my final year of college, I attempted to go “full adult” and buy my first cellphone. The problem, however, was that…

The Most Important New Year’s Resolution for Caregivers

My vision board was complete! Several years ago, after purchasing an overpriced planner, I stared in triumph at the beautiful mural of New Year’s resolutions: Produce and direct two on-stage productions. Finish my screenplay. Go to the gym four days a week. Lose 30 pounds. Host a book signing. Redecorate…