We Care: Road Scholar Caregiver Grant Helps Daughter Pedal On!
A lot can change in nine months. Michelle R., a retired pre-K teacher and avid cyclist living in Florida, could have biked across the country and back in that amount of time. Instead, she lost not one, but both of her parents within nine months of each other in 2023.
Caregiving For Her Parents
Michelle cared for her mom, Dolly, when she was diagnosed with advanced non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. With unwavering dedication, unconditional love and the help of a visiting hospice nurse, she stepped in to help when her mom needed her most. Tragically, Dolly passed away six weeks later. Her loss was devastating for Michelle and her family — especially her dad, Raymond, 87, who found himself alone, with his own health issues, after 65 years of marriage. Without hesitation, Michelle packed up her father and his belongings and brought him to live with her in Orlando.
“Suffering with dementia, prostate cancer, chronic kidney disease and limited mobility, my dad asked if he could come live with me,” says Michelle. “Ten days after Mom died, I brought Dad to Orlando to be his primary caregiver. We both knew his care options were limited due to funds. We made it work. We both made compromises because we loved, respected and cared about each other. Dad said he was ‘clipping my wings’ from getting out to hike and bike, but I knew in time I would have the chance. I needed to be with him now.”
Michelle watched as dementia robbed Raymond of his short-term memory. Nine months after her mother’s passing, Michelle’s dad also passed away.
Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
Michelle Discovers Road Scholar Caregiver Grants
Emotionally and physically exhausted after selflessly devoting herself to her mom’s and dad’s care for the past year, Michelle longed to return to biking and nature. Michelle learned about Road Scholar’s Caregiver Grant scholarship and felt hopeful. She applied, selecting the Biking the Idaho Panhandle on Rails to Trails program to return to her love for biking.
“When I received notification from Road Scholar of the award of the Caregiver Grant, I became overwhelmed with gratitude,” she says. “I felt like there was something to look forward to. The anticipation of this program filled me with excitement and gave me something positive to focus on.
“Getting away to the mountains would be an amazing way to remember the love of nature Dad instilled in our family,” says Michelle. “Growing up in Maine, my dad shared his love of the mountains and nature with me and my three brothers and sister.” With memories of camping in a leaking canvas tent at Lake Pequawket, hiking and exploring the Maine woods together as a family of seven in the 1960s and ’70s, Michelle recalls how her appreciation for the outdoors grew over the years.
Getting Back on the Bike
During the seven-day learning adventure, the Group Leaders made Michelle feel well cared for and cared about. “It felt wonderful knowing that they were taking care of all of the arrangements,” she says. “I was able to be fully present — mind, body and spirit — for the entire week.”
Along the way, Michelle made new friendships as they rode across the Coeur d’Alenes, Hiawatha and Centennial trails in northern Idaho’s panhandle. “We were surrounded by stunningly beautiful mountains on the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes,” she says. “I had a visceral experience in awe of nature and gratitude in my heart for the opportunity to be in this place at this time! We stopped in at an idyllic town of Harrison, Idaho, population 229, and enjoyed a picnic lunch overlooking Lake Coeur d’Alene. The kindness of the people and the magnificence around me made this my favorite part of our week.
“I felt a sense of accomplishment after riding all the trails of the Idaho panhandle. I am promising myself to return to this area one day. Riding the Route of the Hiawatha trail gave me literal goosebumps — from the chill of the tunnels to the majestic snow-capped mountains, trestle bridges and eagles soaring overhead — this was the experience of a lifetime for me,” says Michelle.
The Washington-Idaho state line
Gratitude for Respite
After devoting herself fully to caring for her mom and her dad, Michelle found respite and rejuvenation on this cycling adventure. While riding the country’s quintessential bike trails, she pedaled her way through charming villages and remarkably beautiful mountainsides. Along the way, Michelle honored the memory of her parents and relived her childhood years spent in the Maine woods with her family.
“I am overwhelmed with gratitude,” says Michelle. “It felt so good to be back on the (bike) saddle again and I am sincerely thankful to Road Scholar for awarding me a Caregiver Grant and making this experience possible.”
National Family Caregivers Month
Did you know November is National Family Caregivers month? If you or someone you know would benefit from the rejuvenation that a Road Scholar Caregiver Grant offers, we invite you to learn more about our Caregiver Grants or call us at (877) 737-0664 for more information.