In the Shadows of Illness: Elevating Caregiver Voices
Free Virtual Event, April 12, 4–6 p.m. ET
This story-sharing event is dedicated to the often-unseen experiences of caregivers. Through authentic, first-person stories, we’ll hear from individuals who have cared for ill loved ones—exploring the challenges they’ve faced, the unexpected gifts they’ve received, and the profound lessons they’ve learned along the way. Caregivers give deeply of themselves, yet their own needs are frequently overlooked, leaving many exhausted and burned out. This event creates space to listen, honor their labor, and remind us that caregivers, too, need care.
Guest Speaker
Dr. Lucy Kalanithi
Dr. Lucy Kalanithi is a Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at Stanford University and an advocate for patient-centered care. She is the widow of Dr. Paul Kalanithi, author of the #1 New York Times-bestselling memoir When Breath Becomes Air, which was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize and translated into more than 40 languages, and for which she wrote the epilogue. A graduate of the Yale School of Medicine, the University of California-San Francisco’s Internal Medicine Residency and a postdoctoral fellowship at Stanford’s Clinical Excellence Research Center, she has implemented novel healthcare delivery models in primary care, hospitals and health systems, and served on leadership boards for TEDMED, the Coalition to Transform Advanced Care and the American College of Physicians. She has appeared on stage at TEDMED, on NPR, PBS Newshour, and Yahoo News with Katie Couric, and in The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, Elle and The New York Times. Her award-winning podcast, Gravity, explores narratives of suffering. Dr. Kalanithi brings deep experience as a caregiver, both as a medical professional and as a family member.
Featured Storytellers
Martha Eichler
Martha Eichler is a caregiver for her husband, Rob Eichler, who was diagnosed with ALS in 2023. They reside in Peterborough, NH, where they raised their daughters, Caroline and Tory. Martha herself has been a patient, diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2002, and three other cancers over the years, including colon cancer in 2020, at the height of the pandemic. Through all of these trials, Rob was her caregiver. With illness as a recurring backdrop in her life, Martha has sought methods to process and live through its challenges--first as patient, now as caregiver for Rob.
Jack Millard
Fourteen years into his marriage, Jack Millard became the caregiver for his late wife who was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. Having been a professional actor for most of his life, it was a role he did not wish to play, but found himself unwillingly cast in this challenging, often times heartbreaking role until his wife’s untimely death. Since her passing Jack has been an active participant in the realm of Grief Healing Through Art with the creation of his ongoing art installations ‘Little Boats Of Hope.' Jack is happily remarried and is a successful actor of tv and films and resides in Boston.
Joy Peskin
Joy Peskin is a writer and the senior executive editor at Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers. She is also a CASA (court appointed special advocate) in the foster care system and operates a small business called Joy Peskin Professional Coaching. She is a caregiver for her mother who has dementia and mental illness. You can learn more about Joy on her website.
Past Events
Healing Healthcare Through Shared Stories: Elevating Patient and Provider Voices
As health systems have become increasingly corporate, patients and providers are feeling more disconnected than ever. Provider burnout rates are at an all-time high, and patients are not getting what they need. The goal of this event was to highlight the humanity of both patients and providers by fostering a community of understanding, connection, and healing. To heal healthcare, patients and providers need to come together as allies.
“Healing Healthcare through Shared Stories” featured patients and their healthcare providers sharing personal stories side by side, highlighting the challenges and triumphs they have experienced separately and together. Listen to the experiences through health journeys of our featured storytellers Dr. Katherine Gergen Barnett and Cheryl Harding, as well as our panelists Dr. Thalia Krakower, physician’s assistant Brianna Cardenas, and writer Chris Anselmo.
Reclaiming Our Mental Health Stories
On March 3, 2024, we held our second annual event, "Reclaiming Our Mental Health Stories", during which we shed light on the experiences of individuals navigating mental health challenges in today's world. Listen to our conversation with Rachel Aviv, author of Strangers to Ourselves: Unsettled Minds and the Stories that Make Us, during which we explore the relationship between identity and illness, the impact of labels, and much more. Experience the power of storytelling as you listen to Marina, Nathalie, and John, who shed light on the experiences of individuals navigating anxiety, depression, addiction, and disordered eating.
Making the Invisible Visible
On February 4, 2023, we held our inaugural annual event, “Making the Invisible Visible”, during which we shed light on the experiences of individuals navigating “invisible” chronic illnesses which are poorly understood, challenging to diagnose, and often dismissed by the healthcare establishment. Listen to our conversation with Meghan O’Rourke, author of The Invisible Kingdom: Reimagining Chronic Illness, during which we discussed the concepts of narrative identity and how Meghan's own experience sharing her story has changed how she experiences her illness today. Experience the power of storytelling as you listen to Katy Morly and Lili Fox-Lim, two courageous storytellers, who shared the challenges and insights they’ve encountered on their journeys through illness and healing.