Practical Advice and Encouragement
Curated by Bill Kerner, a Caregiver with Lived Experience This guide provides information on organizations, foundations, and resources that offer assistance to individuals and families affected by ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis). Some programs have been personally…
Hope. It was the one thing I searched for during my journey as a caregiver. My husband, Steve, had a rare, progressive, debilitating neurological disease that would eventually destroy his autonomic system and also required 24-hour care. Every time I came to that point…
Originally posted in October 2019, we honor Ann and the legacy she created for her family. Ann passed away in July 2024, but used her time to live purposefully and give back to others facing what she faced. I didn’t know Holley Kitchen but I visualize her face when I…
Raising teenagers is difficult enough. Trying to do so alone is downright exhausting. Add in the complications that come along with a pandemic, and the fact that single parenting is a result of losing your spouse, and well, things could seem near impossible. Some…
March 18, 2023 marks the 50th birthday of Inheritance of Hope Co-Founder Kristen Grady Milligan. Now, ten years after she passed away, many in our IoH family never knew Kristen. Instead, most of you only know of her as the loving mom who cemented her legacy in…
Here are the words of our families–the ones living with terminal illness every day: You have to be proactive. I think the one thing we learned is that you have to advocate for yourself. No one is going to do that for you. More often than not, people…
Some might argue that “intentional” is by now just a hackneyed buzzword. Still, we use it often at IoH because we think it is one of the best ways to describe how our families living with terminal illness can best leave a legacy for those they love the most. What does…
You can’t avoid it. So, let’s be honest about scanxiety. Here are some ways that four different families living with terminal illness cope just before doctor’s appointments and scans. No matter your family dynamic, finding a friend or relative to discuss your…
This is not intended to be advice, but rather a compilation of tips from some of our families. The most important thing we learned is this: be wary when people give you financial advice and do not know your whole financial picture. Each action you take may have an…
Here are some resources we have found that are often helpful to IoH families. Please note that this list was compiled in the summer of 2021, and if you have others to add, we would love to hear from you! Send us your best resources at: info@inheritanceofhope.org…
All your other responsibilities are still here–work, bills, childcare, household chores, family obligations. None of it went away with the unwelcome arrival of illness into your family. So how will you cope with the new demands on your time plus physical…
The old standard “How was your day?” brings eye rolls, maybe an unintelligible grunt, or a monotone one syllable response. What can parents ask to better foster two-way conversations–conversations you both want to be a part of and truly hear? What was the…
Grief takes many forms–in all of us. For children, especially, this can be confusing both to them and to their parents/caregivers. Our goal here is to help you begin to recognize what you can do for children who are grieving. Realize that children react…
One thing our IoH families all have in common is the desire to help others on this same road, and to make the path easier where possible. Many of our families affected by brain cancer have particularly positive outlooks, and want to share that with anyone else facing…
October 26 marks eight years since our Co-Founder Kristen Milligan passed away. Kristen and her husband Deric spent too much time in the gray space of uncertainty–waiting at doctor’s offices, waiting for test results, waiting for a cure. In 2010, Deric wrote…
Originally posted in May 2019, we would like to share, once again, Gabe and Erin Matheny’s story of hope, and the best news of all–that they are still thriving! “If I could, I would make people go on an Inheritance of Hope Legacy RetreatⓇ,” says Gabe…
Originally published in May 2019, Cheryl continues to climb her mountains, particularly inspiring others living with brain cancer. If Cheryl Broyles is a little more teary-eyed than most moms at Oregon State University’s graduation this spring, she has good…
In these days of uncertainty and limited social interaction, you might find yourself frustrated by the way your life has changed over the past few weeks (or even days). Those of us with ALS or other debilitating diseases get it. But if we can adapt, you can…
While the rest of the world ho-ho-hos their way through the holiday season, those with chronic illnesses might be quietly struggling to keep everything together. Add to that the stress of decorating, attending parties and shopping for gifts and you’ve got a recipe for…
First of all, we are so sorry that you have lost the person you loved so dearly, shared your life with, and who was supposed to be here for your family’s future. We know grief takes different forms and we don’t pretend to have any answers. But our Inheritance of Hope…
Since the Strebe family attended an Inheritance of Hope Legacy RetreatⓇ in February 2014, Jon and Donna have only missed a handful. Between the two of them, they have volunteered at 12 retreats. That’s worth repeating–a dozen Legacy Retreats! The Strebe family…
The term “estate planning” is daunting. You are forced to think about life’s favorite certainties – death and taxes. Estate planning, however, is one of those things that once you put a plan in place, you will feel such a huge sense of relief. This is YOUR plan in…
There’s something about childhood that, even in old age, people find reassuring. The nostalgia and sweet memories of looking back at a simpler time in your life are priceless, and remain treasures for a lifetime. So, often times, when people imagine a 12-year-old…
Chad Falk attended the October 2016 Orlando Legacy Retreat® with his wife and three children. He shared his story at Calvary Evangelical Free Church in Rochester, MN, on November 12. This is a partial transcript of Chad’s remarks. I was diagnosed with lung cancer in…
We all need love to thrive, and when you’ve found the love of your life, it’s hard to imagine losing that person. While we know that everything precious has an end point, it can be a difficult reality to face head on. This can be even more difficult when you’re facing…
(image: Pixabay) It’s been said that the saddest thing about death is not the actual end of life itself, but leaving your loved ones behind and creating the reality of not being able to spend time with you anymore. Needless to say, death is always hard to accept, even…
Cancer or other life-threatening illnesses are devastating for those diagnosed, and their families. In addition to the enormous expenses for chemotherapy, surgeries, medication, and other aggressive treatments, many patients are not able to work and maintain a steady…
At approximately 5:15 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 1, my mother-in-law called me on my mobile phone as I was driving out of the parking garage at work in Midtown Atlanta. “Lanny has been in an accident” were the words that began a journey for our family that culminated in…
Sometimes there are television shows that teach us something meaningful about life & offer nuggets of truth that we can tuck away. Downton Abbey is one of those for me. [Spoiler Alert for anyone who has not watched the Season 4 Premier as there will be scenes I…
This is the beginning of a new series for Hope at Home this fall. There are a few families who have given me permission to share bits & pieces of their story of parenting through sickness, as both the sick parent & the caregiver in upcoming posts on this…
I had scanxiety. I didn’t sleep much … just thinking and thinking. Looking at the clock at 1:45, 3:00, 4:00. I could feel changes in my body. For one, I didn’t hurt in my breast or side anymore. My back still hurt, but not in the same location,…
My mother once told me that she was grateful for the church, because I would have someone to turn to if anything ever happened to her. She wanted me to be safe, secure, and loved. She believed the church is to be a place that offers love and support for all those who…
Several years ago in 2005, my wife Heather was diagnosed with cancer. She had malignant pleural mesothelioma, a very rare and deadly form. It was devastating to our family, particularly because we had just celebrated new life. Just three months prior to her…
USA TODAY’s Nashville music critic Brian Mansfield was diagnosed with colon cancer at age 48. He now chronicles his life with the disease – and with only a small part of his colon – in a series of weekly installments. Below is a segments from a…
I read something recently about courage and what it means. Does it make you think of respect, strength, assurance, endurance, bravery of spirit and conduct? How does it fit in with fear? Fear can be such a debilitating feeling in our lives, yet once we conquer it,…
I live in the mountains and it still amazes me how awe struck I can be at any moment. The mountains are the same, but with just the right light and any given time of year they look different. They look more beautiful and breath-taking everyday. Some days it is…
As a parent, one of the many questions we have in life regarding parenting stems from a desire to care for our kids from a far. If that means while we are out of town, if we are dropping them off at camp or college, if we have a life-threatening illness that could…
Recently I saw this cartoon and it really made me laugh. What a silly expression of a phrase that we use often for encouragement and strength for those we care about. I remember (way back) in high school when I first heard this phrase and some tough guys were…
This month’s devotional is the final of a 3-part series by Legacy Retreat attendee Cheryl Broyles. Nine – Energize: During our break climbing Mount Shasta we drank water and ate to keep up our energy. An amazing energy gel called GU, smooth creamy chocolate…
This month’s devotional is the second of a 3-part series by Legacy Retreat attendee Cheryl Broyles. Five – Faith: The statistics show 70 % of the people attempting to climb Mount Shasta fail and never make it to the peak. Our guide felt it was not due to…
This month’s devotional is the first of a 3-part series by Legacy Retreat attendee Cheryl Broyles. I’m a long term survivor of what is considered “terminal” brain cancer. After living through 3 recurrences, 4 brain surgeries, radiation and chemo – many…