About three weeks ago, my husband and I entered a line of work neither of us had any experience in -- that of a caregiver to an aging parent. In 2007, my husband's mother had an aneurysm burst, but with surgery and a lengthy recovery time, she returned to good health.

Last fall, little changes and mannerisms began to emerge, and she returned to the doctor. That trip to the doctor resulted in surgery, which unfortunately was not a success. Sadly, the aneurysm continues to swell at a slow pace, accompanied by a slow decline in her health. Currently, she is confined to a wheelchair with little left of her balancing capabilities. After much thought, it was decided she should move in with us.