Tricia Fitzgerald brings a deeply personal and candid perspective to the experiences of long-term Caregiving within a family affected by chronic illness. Drawing from over two decades of advocacy and professional work supporting children and families, Tricia’s story is rooted in her own journey—beginning with undiagnosed chronic illness symptoms as a child and culminating in the late discovery of Ankylosing Spondylitis and rheumatoid Arthritis in adulthood. These diagnoses not only shaped her own life but also set the stage for her caregiving journey when several of her six children began exhibiting similar autoimmune conditions, adding layers of both challenge and resilience to her role as a mother and advocate.
Through her story, Tricia highlights the complexities of navigating the medical system, including the frequent dismissal of symptoms, gender disparities in medical treatment, and the persistent need to advocate fiercely for proper diagnoses and care. She candidly shares the toll caregiving takes on personal well-being, Marriage, and professional life, while emphasizing how communication, mutual support, and humor—such as the family’s use of “mashed potatoes” or “mockingbird” as de-escalation cues—have fortified her marriage and family bonds. Tricia also reflects on the importance of self-care, finding joy in small moments, and encouraging her children to develop their own voices as advocates as they transition into adulthood.
Her journey is one of perseverance, Love, and a relentless pursuit of both care and authenticity, making her story both inspiring and deeply relatable for caregivers everywhere.
About Tricia:
Tricia Fitzgerald, M.Ed., is a seasoned leader in social and family services with over 20 years of experience in Education, advocacy, and program management. As the Program Director for Maryville Crisis Nursery, she oversees critical services for families in crisis. Her expertise is further honed by her role as Adjunct Faculty in the College of Education at DePaul University, where she has trained and supervised aspiring teachers since 2005.
Tricia is also the founder of Gentle Beginning, Inc., through which she provided childbirth education, doula services, and family advocacy for a decade. Her professional passion for supporting families is deeply personal; as a mother of six children, all with chronic Health conditions, she brings unparalleled empathy and firsthand knowledge to her work. Tricia is a dedicated advocate, committed to ensuring every child and family has the resources and support they need to thrive.
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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.
