Beverley Ann D’Cruz, a resident of Brampton, Ontario, received a distressing call at 3 a.m. from her cousin in India informing her that her mother had suffered a stroke. Overwhelmed with shock and worry, Beverley rushed to Mumbai to be by her mother’s side, leaving behind her infant son. Her mother was battling stage four lung cancer, while her father was also diagnosed with a serious illness, putting immense strain on Beverley. As an immigrant, she grappled with feelings of guilt, helplessness, and the fear of losing her parents.
The original plan to relocate her parents to Canada was shattered when her father passed away six months after her mother’s stroke. With her sister returning to the U.S., Beverley faced the decision of caring for her mother in India or bringing her to live with her in Canada. Eventually, her mother moved to Brampton in July 2024, where Beverley hoped to help her regain her strength and independence. However, her mother’s refusal of physiotherapy and declining health presented challenges, leading to emotional turmoil for Beverley.
Struggling to balance caregiving responsibilities with her own family and work, Beverley reached a breaking point when her mother broke her leg. She had to confront feelings of anger, shame, and exhaustion, realizing the cultural pressures of caregiving in her South Asian background. Seeking therapy and adjusting her expectations, Beverley learned to accept her mother’s limitations and sought outside help to alleviate some of the caregiving burden. By prioritizing her family’s well-being and seeking support, Beverley found a way to navigate the complexities of being a caregiver while preserving her own mental and emotional health.