Photo: Allison V. Smith
More Personal Moments From ‘The Caregivers’
In this series we met North Texans navigating the legal and personal challenges of caregiving. Whether they are looking after a family member or helping children in need, these caregivers and their families all shared intimate moments with us — both joyous and challenging. Here are some of those moments that didn’t make it into the initial stories in the series, shared as audiograms.
Tech Guerrero
Tech Guerrero (top) and his husband Michael Street have optimized their Dallas home for the comfort of Guerrero’s mother, Maria Luisa Castillo Rocha. / Photo: Allison V. Smith
After she was diagnosed with dementia, Tech Guerrero and his husband convinced Tech’s mother, Maria Luisa Castillo Rocha, to leave her home in Mexico City and move in with them in Dallas. But she still has insurance in Mexico City, and Tech has traveled across the border multiple times, to take Maria Luisa to specialists and restock her medication. The family took a trip to Mexico City earlier this year.
– Tech Guerrero –
Debbie Spruell
Debbie Spruell (front) sings with other members of the choir at Straightway Church in Burleson, Texas. She says singing in the choir brings her comfort from the struggles of her life at home. / Photo: Allison V. Smith
Fort Worth mother Debbie Spruell is a caregiver to her 30-year-old son, Jermaine Hayley. She says she didn’t know a lot about schizophrenia when Hayley was diagnosed with the mental illness about 10 years ago.
– Debbie Spruell –
Justin Hayley
Debbie Spruell and another of her sons, Justin Hayley, outside the Straightway Church in Burleson, Texas. / Photo: Allison V. Smith
Another one of Spruell’s sons, Justin Hayley, says it’s been tough to see his brother Jermaine struggle. Jermaine lives with Debbie, while the rest of his siblings have moved out. Justin says the family is constantly thinking about his brother’s mental health.
– Justin Hayley –
– Justin Hayley –