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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

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This episode of Women Walking brings together two lifelong friends—Claudia Vondrasek and Lynn Malooly—who each found themselves at major crossroads this year. Claudia, a longtime USAID contractor, was swept up in the abrupt RIF that halted global health programs across the world. Lynn had just stepped into retirement after leading Water for South Sudan for more than a decade. Both were navigating endings they didn’t fully choose—and both turned to walking as a way to make sense of what came next.

Their Camino Portuguese pilgrimage became a space for reflection, laughter, spiritual curiosity, and the kind of conversations that only unfold mile after mile. They talk about the invisible rules that shape health behaviors, the transformative power of clean water, the emotional weight of career transitions, and the unexpected grace of Camino “angels.” Along the way, they rediscovered their friendship, their resilience, and the quiet wisdom that comes from putting one foot in front of the other.

This is an episode about transition, companionship, and the paths—literal and metaphorical—that carry us forward.

See the link below for more information on Breakthrough Action's Cost Comparison activity/tool Claudia and her team used to lead community discussions in the Democratic Republic of Congo about overcoming the perception that health care costs are prohibitive.

https://breakthroughactionandresearch.org/breakthroughs-gallery/cost-comparison-activity/

Find Claudia on Linkedin- www.linkedin.com/in/claudia-vondrasek

See the link below for more information on Water for South Sudan:

https://www.waterforsouthsudan.org/

For more information on the book --A Long Walk to Water --based on the true story of Salva, one of some 3,800 Sudanese “Lost Boys” airlifted to the United States beginning in the mid 1990s -- please see this link:

https://lindasuepark.com/books/books-novels/long_walk/

Find Lynn Malooly on Linkedin--https://www.linkedin.com/in/lynn-malooly/

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When the wave of public sector layoffs ended Denise Mortimer’s long career at USAID, she turned loss into creative renewal. In this episode, we explore how her RocketBear Project began with sketches of her dog and grew into portraits of colleagues’ pets paired with heartfelt narration. By celebrating the humanity behind public service, Denise offers a fresh and inviting perspective, blending humor, artistry, and compassion to honor dedication and resilience in ways that continue to resonate even after the institution itself was dismantled.

👉 Follow Denise’s RocketBear Project on Instagram: @rocketbearproject

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This week on Women Walking, we talk with Lenoure Mullaney, a longtime global development professional whose career began in the Peace Corps and spanned more than twenty years across Africa, the Middle East, and beyond. Like so many in our community, Lenoure faced the upheaval of USAID cuts in early 2025—an abrupt loss that felt like losing more than just a job.

In this conversation, Lenoure shares what transition really looks like: the grief of letting go, the humor of dog‑walking adventures, and the courage of starting fresh with horses, Airbnb hosting, and new ways of building community. Her story reminds us that even when systems collapse, we can keep walking—awkward steps, quiet decisions, and all.

Here are some ways to connect with Lenoure and learn more about her Equine and Retreat Center in Lovettsville, VA.

https://www.facebook.com/lenoure/

https://www.facebook.com/TheBlueHydrangeaFarm/

www.thebluehydrangeafarm.com

https://www.instagram.com/theogbaroness/

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In this episode, Lisa Neuberger Fernandez shares how walking with women—across continents and life stages—has shaped her journey through motherhood, leadership, and reinvention. From the Camino to community circles, Lisa reflects on how movement and mentorship help us find our next why. The Next Chapter Accelerator—a retreat and reflection program for senior women leaders—starts again this December. Learn more at www.nextchapteraccelerator.com.

To reach out to Lisa, you can find her on: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisahneuberger/

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In this episode, we talk with Fiona Macaulay—CEO of the WILD Network and co-founder of the Next Chapter Accelerator, a bold program helping women leaders step into what’s next. As part of the experience, participants walk and talk along the Camino, using movement as a catalyst for reflection, clarity, and connection. We also hear from Lee Ann De Reus, CEO of Badass University and a recent participant, who shares how the journey sparked courage, insight, and a whole new chapter. It’s a conversation about reinvention, leadership, and the power of movement—on the trail and in life.

For more information on Fiona Macaulay, follow her on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fionamacaulay and sign up for WILD's newsletter: www.thewildnetwork.org

For more information on Lee Ann De Reus, follow her on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leeanndereus/ or check out Badass University LLC www.badassuniversity.com