“Giving foot spas brought me closer to my sister with Down syndrome”
Teresa closes her eyes and smiles, saying, “Ahh, that feels good.” I agree; it feels great when I have my feet washed and toenails trimmed – I just never expected to give a pedicure to my younger sister with Down syndrome! And as those moments gradually added up over the last decade, I realized that we were both healing our souls as sisters.
“I became my sister’s carer overnight“
You might think I’ve always been the caregiver type, but no. I unexpectedly stepped into the role due to the difficult circumstances which I talk about in Freeing Teresa. Looking back, the moment of change was unexpected and fast. Without knowing what was happening, Teresa was taken away from our father and suddenly put into a nursing home by my brother. Teresa was traumatized, crying and scared. My other siblings said that she would be “safe” in the long-term care facility, but I was shocked. It certainly wasn’t what Teresa wanted. Thankfully we rescued her and she came to live with me. But it changed our lives forever.
“I’ve learned that good caregiving is just kindness”
And that’s when I discovered that good caregiving is really about kindness. After all the troubles we’d been through, I was willing to do anything to make her feel loved and wanted. I discovered that foot spas were a way to soothe both of us. And to heal our hearts.
Sole therapy that’s good for the soul
Ten years ago, I had no idea how much hands-on care I would have to do—and would want to do as Teresa’s caregiver. Now, one of her favourite things is getting a foot spa.
Read more in “Freeing Teresa: A True Story about My Sister and Me” and later in 2024, “Escape to Lotusland: Teresa Finds Her Voice.”