During National Family Caregivers Month, we recognize and honor family caregivers who dedicate time and resources to caring for their loved ones. Jazz is committed to raising awareness of the essential role that caregivers play and the challenges they face, and to educating communities on ways to increase support for them.

While Mark has been living with essential tremor (ET) for more than 40 years, his condition has grown progressively worse for the last three decades, creating significant problems in his day-to-day life. As a middle school teacher, he found it increasingly challenging to complete simple tasks, like writing on the board or grading papers. 

When Steve began experiencing flu-like symptoms, he and his wife Crystal didn't think his condition was serious. His primary care physician and urgent care doctors thought he might have mononucleosis or tonsillitis, but Steve and Crystal knew these theories were unlikely since Steve had his tonsils removed as a child. When he realized antibiotics weren't improving his symptoms, Steve decided to visit the emergency room. Crystal was at an after-school activity when she received a call from Steve to tell her he had leukemia.