Will Durocher, a devoted husband and caregiver, shares his heartfelt story of caring for his wife, Teresa. After several years of marriage, Teresa was diagnosed with dementia. Their love story began at church, where they formed a deep bond rooted in their shared faith. As Teresa's condition progressed, Will took on the primary caregiver role, navigating complex systems such as Medicaid to ensure she received the necessary support.Â
Caring for Teresa presented challenges, but Will found solace in providing small acts of kindness each day, bringing comfort to her. Even after Teresa's passing, her Legacy continued to inspire Will through letters and stories that revealed her generous nature. Will attributes his strength and resilience during this difficult time to his unwavering faith. While deeply missing Teresa, Will finds solace in working on his classic car and connecting with others who understand the unique challenges of Caregiving. This helps him cope with his loss while honoring Teresa's cherished memory.
About Will:
Will Duroucher's life changed drastically in 2010. Just a few years after marrying his sweetheart, Theresa, she was diagnosed with dementia. Will became her primary caregiver and jumped into learning about dementia and how to help Theresa. He talked to other caregivers and read everything he could find on the topic. There's no one-size-fits-all guide for caregivers, so Will has had to learn and adapt as he goes. It's a tough job, but Will is resilient and compassionate and always puts Theresa first.
When Will's not taking care of Theresa, he likes to relax by doing yard work. He finds it meditative and reflective. He also enjoys restoring a classic 1950s Mercury car. It's a challenging project, but it's something he's passionate about and feel a sense of accomplishment.Â
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Known since childhood as “The Elliott Girls” or simply, “The Girls”, it makes sense that we work together to support our mother, and each other. Our trio begins with Jenefer Jane “JJ” who was and always will be “in charge”. She’s the peacekeeper. The responsible one, ensuring Natalie and Emilie remain alive. Next is Natalie, the middle child, who was and always will be Miss Congeniality. She’s the athlete. The rebel responsible for three babysitters exiting the summer of ’84. Then there is Emilie, the youngest, who was and always will be “the baby”. At 6’1”, she is the sensitive and quiet soul. The one responsible for the guinea pig that begged for lettuce and the stray dog we adopted from the bus stop.
After high school we went separate ways, from New Mexico to North Carolina. JJ would go on to get her Master’s in Business Administration and work in the finance world before partnering with her now husband, Dexter, to run a variety of businesses. Natalie would go on to get her Master’s in Social Work degree, and work in the mental health field, advocating for children and families to receive the most appropriate services. Natalie would marry and divorce early on but later marry Jason. Emilie would exit college early to marry and gift us with Owen and twins, Maxx and Natalie Jane aka “The Kids”. Emilie would later divorce and work with county government, focusing much time on caring for the kids.
The source of the sisterhood falls to Jim aka “Big Jim” and Connie, small town high school sweethearts married for almost 40 years.
In 2005, at the age of 52, mom would be diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. She hid the disease for years behind dad’s 6’2” frame. The tremors and sudden inability to move were both calmed and steadied by his arm and simple presence. He was her rock. Our rock. Close family and friends knew of her chronic illness, but to the rest of the world, everything was “fine”. Life would turn upside down when our dad unexpectedly passed in 2011 of a massive heart attack at the age of 58. The assumption was Dad would always be mom’s caregiver but that wasn’t God’s plan.
Mom would spend the years following our father’s death desperately seeking a cure for Parkinson’s while trying to manage her symptoms. As the years went by, the cruel symptoms associated with the disease increased, negatively impacting her body while her mind remained clear and in tune. We lived our lives checking in to make sure she was “okay” but knowing the day would come when we had to do more. And then it did. The summer of 2019 changed everything. That’s where the real caregiver story begins for us. Little did we know she would be only the beginning of our caregiving journey.
In March 2022, Natalie’s husband, Jason, was diagnosed with head and neck cancer. From the first time Jason detected something off about the swollen lymph nodes in his neck, to the formal diagnosis, and the decision to move to New York City to participate in a clinical trial at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, the journey would push them to their limits. The silver lining of his diagnosis was the cancer brought them closer to God, restoring their faith in Him while also experiencing a myriad of blessings through the kindness of family, friends, and strangers. Their story is a testimony that will inspire and offer hope.
