Professional Caregiver Angela Diaz-Burris

Angela Diaz-Burris was the unanimous winner of the Professional Caregiver category.  The judges loved her passion for caregiving, and her courage to stay a caregiver after devastation at an early age.  Her desire to provide companionship, comfort and ultimately love for everyone in her care is admirable.  She is the kind of caregiver we all hope to have for our aging loved ones!

A Lifelong Caregiver

“My name is Angela and a girlfriend of mine suggested that i explore your site and tell you my story.  I have to admit i feel a bit strange writing about myself, it is not something that i do often, but here goes!

I am a 34 year old wife, mother, and student and I do in home and hospice care.  I knew from a very young age that i was meant to care for others.

I began my journey at the age of fourteen, volunteering for a week at the Easter Seal Society’s summer camp programs, for people with physical or developmental disabilities.  I loved it so much that I ended up volunteering the rest of the summer and became employed by them for the next three summers and as a teacher aide in their school program during the school year.  One of the most difficult experiences that I’ve been through was during my junior year of high school, one of my classmate’s had a younger brother with Cerebral Palsy who asked his parents if I could be his personal caregiver.  He was the so intelligent, funny and all around amazing, and I was so honored that he wanted me to care for him.  He always had the most incredible smile and a great sense of humor, he mind was so sharp but his body just so broken.  He was in a lot of pain most of the time so I did my best to keep his spirits up.

One weekend his parents asked me to care for him so they could take the weekend to celebrate their wedding anniversary, they were devoted to their son and really needed a weekend getaway.  We had the best time, eating pizza, watching movies, driving around and singing to the radio.  But the next morning I went upstairs to prepare breakfast and get him ready for the day only to find that he had passed away during the night.  I was in shock and disbelief and it was later determined that he had a congenital heart defect, we were all devastated.  But I’ve come to realize that as hard as that experience was, I felt so honored and humbled that he had chosen me to care for him and to be with him when it was his time to be with the lord. I thought long and hard about continuing caring for others, as it was a very traumatic experience, but I realized it was something that i had a passion for and it felt so amazing to take care of other people.

I am very particular when i care for someone; clothes need to be straightened, good grooming is very important and I try to look out for the little things I can do to provide extra comforts.  I am flexible and try to do things for a client exactly as they want them because I know it is hard for someone to lose their independence and have to rely on someone else to care for them.  I have a serious soft spot for seniors though, I love the stories they have to tell me and I feel its very important to show an enormous amount of respect and admiration and I feel there is a lot to learn, so I pay close attention.

I am currently employed for an agency that provides in home care, so that the client can enjoy the comforts of their home instead of a generic hospital setting.  I feel honored when i am able to sit next to a client, who may be at the end of their journey, and hold their hand or place my hand on their forehead and just reassure them that its ok, they are not alone and its ok if they need to let go.  As much as i would definitely prefer them to get better, I feel its important to make them as comfortable as possible if it is the end of their life journey.  Nothing pains me more than to think of a person, alone and in pain and having to go through the end of life stages without reassurance and a loving hand to be there with them.

I currently care for several different clients, one in particular is an 87 year old woman who had broken both hips and her back.  She has this air of regality about her, she is so fragile and delicate and i hate having to leave her at home alone, i wish i could bring her home with me:(  I like to make sure she is tucked in all cozy before i leave; bed turned down, kleenex, water and a snack by her bedside, medicine and the phone in easy reach.  I take out her dog several times and do some light housekeeping before i go, and i always remember to be as respectful and accomadating as possible so she is as comfortable as possible.  Another client just lost her husband of 64 years and she is just heartbroken, but its so wonderful to see her light up when i ask her questions about what her husband was like.  I make sure to listen attentivelly and take the extra time for her to tell her stories until she is content:) Challenges i’ve faced have been heartbreak, to lose someone special you care for can be very difficult.  It is difficult when you become attached and look to them as a family member, a special aunt or grandmother figure.  I do feel i was put here to care for others and to make life easier in whatever way i can.

My family can’t understand sometimes how i can put myself out there, risking heartbreak and experiencing the trauma of losing someone you care for and about.  My family and friends admire the fact that i am willing to go above and beyond to make sure a client is comfortable, happy and know they are loved.  I have learned so many life lessons on my journey in caring for others, i make sure to be grateful and appreciate the things in my life, as life can be fleeting at times.  When i start to feel the pressure of every day life, the frustration at making ends meet, stress of raising children or caring for my husband or family members, and just trying to live my life with a sense of purpose and a positive attitude.  I make sure to take a step back and simplify things, take a deep breath and remember what is truly important.  Material things and monetary gain are not the number one goals in my life, I appreciate good health, a happy family and I am grateful to have the ability to care for others in their time of need.

I guess I would like people to know that it doesn’t take much to make a person’s day brighter just by simple gestures.  A note or a flower, listening intently or asking questions and letting a person tell you their story or experiences.  To be grateful for what you have and appreciate the people in your life everyday.

Thank you for listening to my special journey in caring for others:)”

The Judges agreed with us! Here are some of the reasons they fell in love with this story.

Angela’s attention to detail regarding professional caregiving was stunning. I appreciated her attention to respect and the loss of independence her clients were feeling and could easily see she “got” what they were going through.  ~ Rita Arens

I chose Angela Diaz-Burris’ story because she is so dedicated and so concerned and caring with those she is caring for. She is the definition of selfless and has a great big heart.   I lost both of my parents recently, and she is exactly the type of person I would want caring for them (and I met so many I did not want caring for my parents!).  I have been considering volunteering - visiting seniors, and her story confirms that I do want to do this. I miss my parents so much, and I think it would be good for my heart. ~ Jennifer Regan

I was so impressed that Angela did not quit caregivng when the young man died.  She took the experiences she has had in caregiving and turned them into learning experiences. She understands the needs of her patients and is insightful and empathetic.  She is truly an “old soul”! ~ Barbara McVicker

Reading how Angela was inspired to go into caregiving by experiences that would have left others crippled, warmed my heart.  She has an amazing upbeat attitude which her clients must love.  With aging parents of my own who require caretaking, I know I would love to know they were in an “Angela’s” hands.  ~Norma Rosenthal