Caitlin W. Care Companion in Huntington Beach, CA 92647

I became a caregiver at the young age of 5. This is my story. Months before I was born my father got into an accident at Plum Island, MA. He was pulled under by a strong undertow causing him to hit his head on the ocean floor. The impact broke his upper spine which made him a quadriplegic. My mother, a very strong woman in many aspects, pulled him from the water and stayed by his side from that day forward. At the age of 5 I began learning how to be a caregiver for my father. This instilled many skills and life lessons that others my age had never encountered.

When I was 14 my father was diagnosed with cancer. The cancer quickly took his life, but his longest struggle was with quadriplegia. In his honor, I vow to never stop my efforts in supporting the spinal cord injury community.

I've made it my mission to make a lasting, positive impact on the lives of others by sharing my personal story. I am proud to be a peer family mentor with the Greater Boston Chapter of the National Spinal Cord Injury Association. I continually strive to raise awareness and funds by gaining and addressing new audiences. I am currently working on an initiative that will improve the lives of those affected by SCI in addition to working in SCI research.

I am new to the LA area and would love to be a part of your family!