Betsy Smith | The Bulldog Advocate & Caregiver
Grieving Voices
English - November 08, 2022 09:00 - 47 minutes - 21.7 MBMental Health Health & Fitness Education Self-Improvement grief grief podcast grief support grief education grief stories loss heartbroken divorce death child loss Homepage Download Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
According to Johns Hopkins, 240,000 medical error deaths occur every year. Betsy learned that when it comes to the healthcare system and being a caregiver, becoming informed and a fierce advocate is the only option.
Betsy learned real-life experience about medical advocacy while her husband survived prostate cancer, only to be diagnosed with bone marrow cancer five years later. Four years after his bone marrow cancer diagnosis, he passed away.
Within six months of his passing, she went against the advice generally given to widows not to make any big decisions the first year and sold her home and moved. But her move wasn't to start over or escape; rather, she was moving toward support and people who knew her. In her words, she moved to where her "colonoscopy friends" were.
Once she was surrounded by everything familiar, the loss of her husband hit hard, and she sought weekly support from a grief therapist. Through that support, she navigated the devastating loss of her husband, Jack.
What followed was a strong desire to write a book that could offer support to other caregivers navigating the healthcare system. Through her writing, she shares with others the lessons she learned, caregiver tips, and practical advice for becoming the best advocate you can be for your loved one.
Not everyone is assertive or forward in their approach to situations. And Betsy learned that southern charm and politeness don't move others to action. She has made it her mission to help others find their own inner bulldog. Because, when it comes to those you love, or yourself, there will never be anyone who cares more than you.
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