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In this episode of Women Walking, I sit down with Lillian Cotter — a neonatal intensive care nurse, mother, and wife — for a conversation that is as tender as it is instructive. Lillian opens the door to her family’s journey through her husband Michael’s dementia, a path that ultimately led to his death in 2024.

As someone who walked through a similar road with my own mother, who lived with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), another devastating neurological disease, I recognize the emotional terrain Lillian describes — the slow changes, the daily caregiving decisions, the anticipatory grief, and the fierce love that carries you through.

Together, we talk about what it means to love someone through decline, to navigate the realities of caregiving, and to face end of life with honesty, compassion, and a comfort-centered approach to care. Lillian’s story is deeply personal, yet profoundly universal — a reminder that caregiving is both a burden and a gift, a heartbreak and a profound act of devotion.

This episode is for anyone walking beside a loved one through dementia, PSP, or any neurological illness, and for anyone navigating the realities of serious, life-limiting conditions. It's for caregivers seeking guidance, companionship, or simply the reassurance that they are not alone. Lillian brings vulnerability, clarity, and hard‑earned wisdom to a conversation that touches the heart and steadies the spirit.

Lillian has also asked that we share links to several excellent caregiving resources:

The Grieving Brain: The Surprising Science of How Learn from Love and Loss

👉 https://books.google.com/books/about/The_Grieving_Brain.html?id=7ngsEAAAQBAJ

Insight Memory Care Center: A nonprofit in Northern Virginia providing specialized day programs, caregiver support, and education for famililies navigating dementia

👉 https://www.insightmcc.org/

LionHeart Eldercare & Consulting: A Northern Virginia care-management practice that helps families coordinate medical care, navigate dementia, and support agin loved ones with safety, dignity, and independence.

👉 https://lionhearteldercare.com/

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In this episode, we walk alongside Dr. Farrah Daly, one of the first neurologists in the U.S. formally trained in palliative medicine and a leader in the growing field of neuropalliative care. Her work sits at the intersection of medicine, compassion, and transition, making her an ideal guide for a conversation about how we care for people living with serious neurologic illness, and how we care for the families walking beside them.

Dr. Daly shares what first drew her to neurology and the quieter pull that led her toward palliative care. Together, we explore what neuropalliative care really looks like in practice, from supporting people with conditions like ALS, PSP, and Parkinson’s, to the profound impact of home‑based care, where presence, dignity, and relationship take center stage.

We talk about the emotional labor of caregiving, anticipatory grief, and the often‑invisible weight women carry as they support loved ones nearing the end of life. Dr. Daly reflects on how palliative care has evolved beyond its old end‑of‑life frame, and why understanding the difference between palliative care and hospice can transform a family’s entire experience.

As Vice President and President‑Elect of the International Neuropalliative Care Society (INPCS), she also lifts up the systemic challenges, and quiet revolutions shaping the field today: the need for patient‑centered models, equal seats at the table for families, and better support for clinicians in low‑resource settings.

This is a conversation about walking with people through some of life’s most vulnerable transitions, and about the grace, clarity, and courage it takes to show up—again and again--with dignity at the center.

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Elizabeth Jere spent two decades leading global health programs across Africa — balancing leadership with single motherhood and a deep commitment to women’s empowerment. But after federal cuts abruptly ended her USAID contractor role, Elizabeth found herself adrift, grieving in Spain and searching for a new path.

In this episode, she shares her journey through loss, healing, and reinvention — from being “mothered” by a colleague in Cambodia to finding sanctuary underwater as a diver. Now the founder of Jiranileo, an African food tourism company recognized by UN Tourism, Elizabeth is building a business that celebrates culinary heritage and creates opportunities for women and youth.

This is a story of courage, community, and the power of starting over — told with honesty, humor, and hope.

To check out Jiranileo or find out more about Elizabeth Jere's work and travels, see the links below:

Jiranileo website: https://jiranileo.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-jere/

Travel blog: https://themoviousmzungu.com/

And if anyone wants to follow Elizabeth's remote life, she posts her travels on Instagram @dadaeliza