This is our final episode for 2024. We will be back in 2025 with more topics and guests. It was a little over a year ago that the idea for this podcast was born. In 2019, I wanted to do something to help cancer patients and their familes, and by what I believe to be Divine Providence, I met my good friend Ray, who also lost his spouse to cancer. Ray introduced me to people at the local hospital where he volunteered, and we formed and developed a support group for family caregivers of cancer patients. There I met Dr Fran Baumgarten, and we all collaborated on the support group. That was  2019, and the support group has been running ever since. While the feedback has been  very positive, we are able to reach only those patients and their families at the cancer center. Last year I began thinking about how to reach more people, and make it easier to access, and the podcast idea was born. I spoke with Fran about possibly joining me as a guest from time to time. To my great joy, Fran was all in, and agreed to co-host with me.  So we were off and running. Of course neither of us knew anthing about podcasting. A crash course ensued. We recruited support, and thanks to my neice Toni-Anne, herself a podcaster, who gave us advice, introductions to tech people, and pointed us in the right direction. And a special thanks to my talented son Danny, who created our podcast cover art, as well as all the graphics and artwork used for the slides with our suport group. I know this means a great deal to him to lend his great talents to this cause, and I appreciate him so much. This podcast has exceeded our expectations beyond compare. After 17 episodes we have over 1,000 downloads, and are heard around the globe, including the US, Canada, Greece, Australia, Russia, France, Brazil, Romania, Argentina, Sweden and Bangladesh.

We want to say a big THANK YOU to all our listeners. Your listenership tells us we are providing something helpful and of value to you. You encourage us to keep bringing interesting guests and meaningful topics to you.

We are now planning next year's episodes, and if you have suggestions, comments, questions or ideas please reach out to us, through our website www.caregivercompanion.libsyn.com or through our email caregiver270@gmail.com

Also, if you need support or help from a therapist. Reach our to Fran's Place www.centerforcancercounseling.org There you can find help at little to no cost.

We want to wish you peaceful, restful and joyful holiday season.  Take one step at a time, take care of yourselves, and continue on.

I want to leave you with the words of theoretical physicist Wald Wasserman....

"Life's purpose is companionship, friendship, love... and none of that could be experienced without you, so thank you, thank you, thank you"