For more than two decades, Melody Vachal has lived the reality of being the primary caregiver for her son, Isaac, who is blind, and has cerebral palsy and epilepsy. As a mother, Melody knows the devotion required to care for a son who looks to her for his daily needs. She knows the loss of spontaneity, the 24-hour attentiveness that is everyday life for herself and her family. She and her family know the loss of privacy in their home when substitute caregivers provide much-needed support and respite.

As a daughter, Melody managed the intricate medical needs of her father as he faced declining health the final years of his life. She understands the impact of being in the middle, trying to juggle family life with the urgent needs of an elderly parent. As a professional with a Master of Science degree in Communication Disorders, Melody has cared for children, providing direct therapy for 30 years as a speech-language pathologist for the St. Cloud School District, and giving parents the clinical support, they need as caregivers.

As an individual, Melody has learned about caregiving from the other side after she was seriously injured in  a car accident and needed rehabilitation and caregiving herself. In all of these roles – as a mother, a daughter, a professional, and as a recipient of care, Melody has learned the emotional impact and practical details of caregiving. She knows how to connect with resources, find support, put together a care team, and – as she works to recover from her own injuries – she is living the importance of caregivers caring for themselves.