I’m 17, and I Take Care of My Abuela

    It’s 1 a.m., and Daniel Garcia is asleep. Suddenly, an alarm goes off. Daniel knows what that means: His grandma needs him again.

    Daniel’s grandma is 85 years old. She has trouble walking by herself. At night, she pushes a button when she needs help. The button rings an alarm to wake Daniel up.

    Daniel, 17, gets out of bed. He goes to his grandma’s room and helps her to the bathroom. Then he collapses back into bed. He has to wake up for school in less than five hours. But he knows the alarm might ring again.

    Daniel does this night after night. He’s a teen caregiver.

    It’s 1 a.m., and Daniel Garcia is fast asleep. Suddenly, an alarm jolts him awake. Daniel knows very well what that alarm means. It means his grandma needs him again.

    Daniel’s grandma is 85 years old, and she has difficulty walking by herself. At night, she pushes a button when she needs help. The button rings an alarm to wake Daniel up.

    Daniel, 17, drags himself out of bed. He goes to his grandmother’s room and helps her to the bathroom. Then he collapses back into bed. He has to wake up for school in less than five hours. But he knows there’s a possibility that the alarm will ring again.

    Daniel does this night after night after night. This is Daniel’s life as a teen caregiver.

    Daniel used to play soccer after school. Now he goes home. He makes food for his grandma. He hooks her up to a machine that helps her breathe. While she watches TV, he does homework.

    In the evenings, Daniel makes dinner. He helps his grandma bathe and get ready for bed. When she’s asleep, he studies.

    Daniel is often tired. But a short nap after school helps.  

    He also joined a support group for teen caregivers. He likes talking to other kids who understand. “It’s a place where I can be myself—where people don’t think I’m weird because I take care of my grandma,” he says.

    Daniel used to play soccer after school. Now his afternoons are very different. He prepares his grandmother’s food and hooks her up to a machine that helps her breathe. Then he does his homework while she watches soap operas.

    In the evenings, Daniel makes dinner, helps his grandma bathe, and gets her ready for bed. He squeezes in extra studying after his grandma is asleep.

    Daniel often feels exhausted, but he has learned how to cope. Taking a 10- or 15-minute nap after school helps him feel more energetic.  

    Daniel also recently joined a support group for teenage caregivers. He says it’s nice to talk to other kids who understand. “It’s a place where I can be myself—where people don’t think I’m weird because I take care of my grandma,” he explains.

    Next year, Daniel plans to go away to college. His dad has promised to take good care of his grandma. But Daniel won’t forget caring for her. He wants to become a doctor so he can help disabled people like her.

    Daniel has grown a lot in the last two years. He gets things done even when they’re hard. And he makes the most of every moment.

    “I always knew I loved my family,” he says. “Now I know what it’s like to care about someone even more than you care about yourself. It sounds corny, but I think that’s what real love is.”

    Next year, Daniel plans to go away to college. His dad has promised to take good care of his abuela in his absence, but Daniel won’t forget caring for her. In fact, he wants to become a doctor so he can help disabled people like her.

    Daniel has learned a great deal from his caregiving experiences: He’s learned how to do what you need to do even when it’s difficult, and he’s learned how to make the most of every moment.

    “I always knew I loved my family,” Daniel says. “Now I know what it’s like to care about someone even more than you care about yourself. It sounds corny, but I think that’s what real love is.”