I Saved You. Now, Do the Dishes

Welcome to the I Saved You, Now Do the Dishes podcast! This episode marks the close of Season Two. After nine deeply personal and honest episodes, some solo and some with Carrie and Gavin, we’re pressing pause—not to end the story, but to evolve it. I Saved You. Now Do the Dishes has always been about telling the truth of caregiving, advocating, and marriage. It's a messy, sacred, exhausting, and scary reality so many live but few talk about. Starting next season (hopefully happening in September, but maybe sooner), we’re shifting direction. Next season, we’re expanding the conversation beyond personal story and into impact. We’ll be sitting down with professionals and organizations doing meaningful work in the caregiving space. If you know of an organization making a difference for caregivers, we want to hear from you. Please reach out and connect with us. We’re building something bigger, together. Thank you for being here, for listening, and for doing the dishes. I Saved You. Now, Do the Dishes highlights Carrie Severson as she shares stories from her experiences as an advocate and caregiver during her husband's cancer journey. This podcast offers insights into patient care and navigating the complexities of cancer treatment, including chemotherapy. We also touch on important topics like mental health and preventing caregiver burnout. 🎧 I Saved You. Now, Do the Dishes.

So much of caregiving happens in the waiting. Waiting rooms. Hospital lobbies. Spaces where time slows down—but your nervous system doesn’t. In this episode, I’m sharing simple, real-life ways to take care of yourself in those moments—nervous system support, grounding practices, and tools you can actually use while you’re sitting there holding it all together. Because caregiving doesn’t pause for you to recover. But that doesn’t mean you don’t deserve support in the middle of it. And as we near the end of season two, this episode also points to what’s ahead. I’m feeling a pull to expand this work—to connect you not just to stories, but to real resources, real people, and real support systems. We’re building toward something bigger. And I’m so glad you’re here for it. Welcome to the I Saved You, Now Do the Dishes podcast! Join Carrie Severson as she shares stories from her experiences as an advocate and caregiver during her husband's cancer journey. This podcast offers insights into patient care and navigating the complexities of cancer treatment. We also touch on important topics like mental health and preventing caregiver burnout.🎧 I Saved You. Now, Do the Dishes. #caregivers #cancercare #medicaladvocacy #marriage

Welcome to the I Saved You, Now Do the Dishes podcast! Join Carrie Severson as she shares stories from her experiences as an advocate and caregiver during her husband's cancer journey. This podcast offers insights into patient care and navigating the complexities of cancer treatment. We also touch on important topics like mental health and preventing caregiver burnout.🎧 I Saved You. Now, Do the Dishes. The more I share about my experience as a caregiver—what I learned, how I advocated, and what helped me survive it—the more people reach out and ask: “How do I find support?” And I get it. Because when you’re in it, you don’t even know what you don’t know. In today’s episode, I’m talking about the resources that made a difference for me, the organizations that support caregivers across the country, and why connecting people to the right help has become something I care deeply about. Because here’s the truth: I love connecting people. I love shining light on the people doing this work. And I love sharing the tools that make this just a little bit easier. This episode is also a bit of a turning point—taking what I’ve learned and expanding it into something bigger, so I can support even more caregivers. If you’re listening and need help finding resources where you are, reach out to me directly: 📩 [email protected] or connect with me on https://www.instagram.com/authorcarrieseverson/ Tell me where you’re located, and I’ll help connect you to what’s available near you. You don’t have to figure this out alone. #mentalhealth #caregiver #caregiving #caregiversupport #caregiverburnout

Welcome to the I Saved You, Now Do the Dishes podcast! Join Carrie Severson as she shares stories from her experiences as an advocate and caregiver during her husband's cancer journey. This podcast offers insights into patient care and navigating the complexities of cancer treatment, including chemotherapy. In this episode, I’m sharing what it actually looks like to be two years past my husband’s cancer treatment… and still very much in the process of healing. Because here’s the truth no one really prepares you for: patients and caregivers don’t heal on the same timeline—or in the same way. I talk about the quiet, ongoing work of putting myself back together. The things that are helping (and sometimes just getting me through): EFT tapping, long walks, snuggling with the dog… and yes, probably crying. This isn’t a neat, tied-up-with-a-bow kind of episode. It’s real, it’s messy, and it’s honest about what comes after survival. If you’ve ever been the one holding it all together, this conversation is for you.🎧 I Saved You. Now, Do the Dishes. #cancertreatment #caregiverburnout #mentalhealth #marriage #healing #burnoutrecovery #caregiversupport

Welcome to the I Saved You, Now Do the Dishes podcast! Join Carrie Severson as she shares stories from her experiences as an advocate and caregiver during her husband's cancer journey. This podcast episode offers insights into patient care and navigating the complexities of cancer treatment, including chemotherapy. It's been a while, and with the two-year milestone here, Carrie felt called to start sharing again. Healing looks different for Gavin, who went through cancer, than it does for Carrie as his caregiver. Both journeys are real. Both are complicated. But this time of year… it still triggers both. Two years ago, Carrie had to advocate in ways she never imagined she would. She asked for medical staff to be removed from his care team. Caregiving is hard. Recovering from caregiving is hard, too. 🎧 I Saved You. Now, Do the Dishes. To get in touch with Carrie, go to www.carrieseverson.com or follow her on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarrieseverson/

In this intimate and heartfelt episode of I Saved You. Now Do the Dishes podcast, Carrie sits down with her husband, Gavin—the very person who inspired this podcast after his head and neck cancer diagnosis two years ago. With honesty, humor, and the kind of raw vulnerability that only comes from living through it, they revisit the milestone that changed everything. Carrie and Gavin unpack the days leading up to his diagnosis: a strange lump, escalating worry, and the surreal contrast of preparing to host their very first Thanksgiving while bracing for news that would upend their lives. Carrie shares what it was like to sit in the waiting period of uncertainty. Gavin opens up about hoping—really hoping—that the whole thing was nothing more than a big, stubborn boil. Together, they reflect on how fear, denial, intuition, partnership, and even humor carried them through that chapter. This episode is a testament to resilience, love, and the unseen emotional labor of caregiving and being cared for —spouse style.  If you’ve ever navigated a medical unknown, stood in the tension between hope and fear, or loved someone through a life-altering moment, this conversation is for you.

In this candid and heartfelt episode of I Saved You. Now do the dishes, Carrie Severson and her husband, Gavin, open up about navigating cancer and pain management with marijuana gummies. While the gummies helped Gavin finally get some much-needed sleep, they didn’t do much to ease the pain. Together, they unpack the frustration, trial and error, and emotional toll that come with trying to find relief in the midst of cancer treatment. It’s an honest look at resilience, humor, and the reality of learning to live — and love — through the discomfort. If you're a caregiver, and married to your patient, this is for you. Reach out to Carrie at www.carrieseverson.com or follow her at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarrieseverson/. #love #cancertreatment #caregiveradvice #burnout #caregiverburnout #mentalhealth #cancerpatients

In this heartfelt (and hilariously off-track) episode, Carrie is joined once again by her husband, Gavin, for an honest conversation about marriage, recovery, and the wild ride of caregiving—especially when your spouse has ADD. Despite Gavin’s best attempts to derail the story with his signature tangents, Carrie keeps steering them back to one powerful moment: the day he faced his fear of eating. To start that journey, a speech therapist started him with a little container of applesauce. After surviving head and neck cancer and life with a feeding tube, food became a source of real fear and pain for Gavin. Together, they unpack what it took for him to face that fear—and what it was like for Carrie to witness that breakthrough as his partner and caregiver. It’s funny, raw, and deeply human—just like healing itself. #add #marriagecouple #cancertreatment #cancerrecovery #headandneckcancer #caregiving #caregivertips #lovestory #mentalhealth #burnout #burnoutrecovery

Season 2 of I Saved You, Now Do the Dishes kicks off with a deeply personal and heartfelt conversation between host Carrie Severson and her husband, Gavin, the inspiration behind the podcast. This episode is full of love, laughter, and the kind of real-life banter only a husband and wife can bring. Carrie and Gavin reflect on what “healing” really looks like for both the caregiver and the patient, sharing raw insights, tender moments, and plenty of humor along the way. If you’ve ever wondered what it feels like to move from survival mode toward the messy, beautiful road of recovery, this one’s for you.

In this final episode of I Saved You. Now, Do the Dishes Season One, I share the deeply emotional, long-awaited moment my husband rang the bell—his last day of radiation. After months of caregiving, chaos, and constant crisis, something I craved began to happen: I leaned into what I had to do to heal myself. The very day he finished treatment, I felt the shift. I realized I could no longer put my mental and physical health on the back burner. In this season finale, I reflect on what it means to finally exhale, how to rebuild after survival mode, and what it looks like to step back into myself after fighting so hard for someone else. If you require a keynote speaker, reach out to Carrie at www.carrieseverson.com or at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarrieseverson/. In I Saved You. Now, Do the Dishes, Carrie discusses the importance of caregiver support as she reflects on being a family caregiver during her husband's cancer journey. She shares stories and tips from her experience, highlighting the need for essential caregiver resources. Tune back in for Season Two starting in the fall!

On what was supposed to be Gavin's last day of his cancer treatment, everything changed in an instant. In this episode of I Saved You. Now, Do the Dishes, I share the story of an unexpected and frightening detour — a rush to the ER that none of us saw coming. This episode dives into the emotional whiplash of caregiving: the mental load, the constant uncertainty, and how quickly a “normal” day can unravel. It’s raw, it’s real, and it’s another reminder that caregivers are constantly navigating the line between hope and emergency. If you’ve ever felt like the ground shifted beneath you in an instant, this one’s for you. If you're a family caregiver, reach out to Carrie at www.carrieseverson.com or follow at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarrieseverson/. In I Saved You. Now, Do the Dishes, Carrie discusses the importance of caregiver support as she reflects on being a family caregiver during her husband's cancer journey. She shares stories and tips from her experience, highlighting the need for essential caregiver resources. As season one comes to a close, she teases the return of the podcast in the fall.

In this episode of I Saved You. Now, Do the Dishes Podcast, Carrie Severson shares the moment she realized they'd fallen through the cracks. Despite all the check-ins, appointments, and protocols, Carrie learned—after Gavin was nearly finished with his cancer treatment plan, including several rounds of chemotherapy—that he was never even scheduled to see an oncology nurse. That same day, his essential medication was sent to the wrong pharmacy during one of the most critical and fragile points in his care. This episode is a raw look at the administrative breakdowns that can define the caregiver experience, and what it's really like to become the coordinator, advocate, and emotional anchor all at once. This episode reflects on the purpose of I Saved You. Now, Do the Dishes podcast and Carrie share more tips for caregiving from her experience and invite listeners to share their thoughts. As this season of the show is coming to a close, she hopes to continue providing caregiver support for family caregivers when season two picks up in the fall! If you're a family caregiver, reach out to Carrie at www.carrieseverson.com or follow at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarrieseverson/.

In this episode of I Saved You. Now, Do the Dishes, I open up about one of the most exhausting and vulnerable parts of our caregiving journey—feeding Gavin. At first, I was feeding him by hand through 10 different syringes. And, since he had to be sedated 30 minutes before every radiation session, he was often unconscious or groggy during the times he needed to eat. It was lonely, sacred, and exhausting work. I had questions. His feeding port popped open often initially, and formula went everywhere every time he flicked or coughed. It was a mess, and I needed help and community. And then came the news: since Gavin was an emergency room patient, the GI department didn't see him as a patient and could not support us for several weeks after we were sent home from the hospital. It was a liability issue for the hospital. This episode is a window into the quiet heroism caregivers shoulder behind the scenes, and the absurdity of having to wait for a liability loophole to get help. If you're a family caregiver, reach out to me at www.carrieseverson.com or follow me at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarrieseverson/. Carrie Severson shares her personal stories and tips from her experience as a caregiver during her husband's head and neck cancer. She discusses the challenges, emotions, and lessons learned while supporting a loved one through cancer. Carrie also shares tips on burnout, resilience, and discusses the importance of finding the joys in everyday life.

In this deeply personal podcast episode of, I Saved You. Now, Do the Dishes, I share the raw, nerve-wracking experience of bringing my husband home from the long-term cancer wing before I was ready. He wanted out of the hospital, but I wasn't prepared for everything I had to do for him. I shared my anxiety with the internal medicine department in hopes that they would keep him longer, but the team saw no reason to keep him, despite my pleas and the visible reality of our situation. My concerns were brushed off as caregiver overwhelm and I was advised to bring in an at-home nurse to help me with feedings, cleanings, and the drugs. I got a quick tutorial of how to feed my husband through his feeding tube by hand every three to four hours, a box of formula, a box of syringes and a vial of anti-anxiety prescription I had to give him before radiation every day. This is the reality of caregiving in crisis and what it takes to keep going when you are given more than you know what to do with and even more questions. If you're a family caregiver, reach out to me at www.carrieseverson.com or follow me at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarrieseverson/. #caregiver #caregiverburnout #marriage #cancer #mentalhealth #cancertreatment

After filing formal complaints against the doctors who violated my husband’s patient rights, everything changed. In this episode, I share what happened next—how advocating for Gavin led to a new physician assistant, a new nurse, and finally, the right medications. It wasn’t easy, but standing my ground shifted the entire course of his care. Gavin was still in the hospital, newly reliant on a feeding tube and being checked for pneumonia—but for the first time in a while, it felt like we could both exhale. Despite the fact that I was still in caregiving burnout and wildly overwhelmed, I loved being able to lean on hospital staff. This is a story about the power of speaking up, even when your voice shakes, and the turning point that gave us hope again. Join me as I share more insights from my husband's cancer journey, focusing on the importance of being a strong patient advocate. I'll discuss navigating the healthcare system and the necessity of caregiver support. This episode also underscores the significance of patient safety within local hospitals. Connect with me if you're on a similar path at www.carrieseverson.com or instagram.com/authorcarrieseverson/

In this powerful and deeply personal episode, I share the day that marked a turning point in both my husband’s cancer journey and my role as his caregiver. It was the day he got a feeding tube—and the day I said enough. After witnessing a series of unacceptable medical missteps, I filed formal complaints against a radiology physician assistant, a resident, and a nurse. My husband’s patient rights had been violated, and I could no longer stay silent. This episode is about advocacy, breaking points, and what it means to fight not just for someone’s health—but for their dignity. If you’ve ever found yourself in a system that didn’t seem to see you, this one’s for you. If you're a caregiver, I'd love to hear from you. Reach out to me at https://carrieseverson.com/home/ or follow me at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarrieseverson/ #cancertreatment #chemotherapy #cancertherapy #caregiving #spouse #marriage #burnoutrecovery

In this deeply personal episode, I share what it was like to get Gavin admitted to long-term cancer care—and the whirlwind that followed. From internal medicine to palliative care, social work to surgical consults, the first few days were a blur of faces and emotions. One moment stands out: the unprofessional and dismissive physician assistant who reduced my husband’s unimaginable strength to a judgment about his inability to handle radiation. That moment helped me realize I couldn’t—and wouldn’t—leave him alone in this system. I had to become his advocate, his translator, his buffer. This is the story of how I found my footing in the chaos. It’s about learning to trust your gut, speak up, and show up when someone you love is most vulnerable. If you're a caregiver, I'd love to hear from you. Reach out to me at https://carrieseverson.com/home/ or follow me at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarrieseverson/

In this raw and unfiltered episode of I Saved You. Now Do the Dishes, I walk you through the moment my husband finally faced what he’d been resisting: the need for a feeding tube. What should have been a moment of compassionate care turned into something else entirely—his physician assistant laughed, told him he made her job harder, and actually said we should pray to our lucky stars she could “work her magic” to get him a feeding tube. Unprofessional doesn’t even begin to cover it. I got in her face. I yelled. And then I got Gavin admitted to the ER. His white blood cell count was so low, the attending ER physician said Gavin's body was close to shutting down. He was checked into the long-term cancer wing. This is a story about thresholds—of health, of patience, of love—and what happens when you’re forced to cross them all at once. If you're a caregiver, I'd love to hear from you. Reach out to me at https://carrieseverson.com/home/ or follow me at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarrieseverson/

In this episode of the, I Saved You. Now Do the Dishes Podcast, I talk about my husband’s not-so-subtle obsession with donuts—and how chasing those sugary circles became our unexpected act of rebellion against the crushing weight of head and neck cancer. While he battled relentless pain and I tried everything to avoid pulling out the Narcan, we clung to small joys like they were life rafts. This one’s about sugar, suffering, stubbornness, and the sacred art of finding light in the small moments. Even if it involves holding onto a dumpster and puking. I'd love to hear from you. Reach out to me at https://carrieseverson.com/home/ or follow me at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarrieseverson/

On this episode of I Saved You. Now, Do the Dishes podcast, I'm getting my husband connected with a palliative care team member to help manage his cancer pain. If you've followed this season, you know what it took to get there, and the emotional weight of saying yes to more help. I talk about my exhaustion at that point and now, managing the two different forms of oxy prescribed to help him find some relief. It’s a conversation about pain, advocacy, and the strange comfort of watching someone you love finally get a break—even if it comes wrapped in a prescription bottle. Because sometimes saving someone looks like paperwork, coordination, and a quiet moment of surrender. Connect with me if you're on a similar path at www.carrieseverson.com or instagram.com/authorcarrieseverson/ #caregiving #cancercaregivers #cancer #headandneckcancer #chemotherapysideeffects #burnoutrecovery #marriage

In this episode of I Saved You. Now, Do the Dishes., I’m sounding the alarm for caregivers walking the brutal line between cancer treatment and pain management. This one is personal. My husband had just been prescribed opioids for pain. And nobody gave him any additional or alternative instructions for days he had chemo. No one warned us about side effects chemo has with Oxy. This episode outlines the fourth, and last time Gavin would do chemo. He refused it after this day. During chemo, I couldn't wake him. But I knew something was wrong. He sounded different. His breathing was different. I told the nurse something was wrong but she just laughed and said, "Oh he's just out of it." But when both his chemo bags were administered, she couldn't wake him up. She went and grabbed her boss. And the boss couldn't wake him up. They stood above him, shouting at him. "SIR. SIR. GET UP NOW." I started slapping his bare belly. Picking his legs up and dropping them. Nothing. No response. He was breathing but couldn't wake up. "We call this 'snowed,' the boss nurse said with a smile. I was faced with gut-wrenching choices: have him admitted as an overdose patient, have the chemo nurse put him in unbearable pain with Narcan—or pray he could sleep it off. I got him to open his eyes and his pupils were little dots. He looked miles away. But I chose option three. They helped me get him in the car. That night was terrifying. What followed was detox, trauma, and a complete loss of trust in his care team. This is the story I wish I had heard before it happened to us. If you’re a caregiver or someone in treatment, please listen. This isn’t just an episode—it’s a warning sign. Connect with me if you're on a similar path at www.carrieseverson.com or instagram.com/authorcarrieseverson/

This week, I take you inside one of the hardest chapters of our journey—Week Five. My husband was deep in the trenches of treatment for head and neck cancer, and everything was unraveling. He could barely speak, eat, or drink, and his body was giving out. As his caregiver and medical advocate, I was doing everything I could to keep him alive—but we didn’t agree on how to do that. He didn’t want a feeding tube. I knew he wouldn’t survive without one. The moment I had to tell the GI department he didn’t consent to a consult—and then found out the wait time was two months—was the moment I realized just how fragile everything had become. This episode is about what happens when love, survival, and disagreement collide. It’s about the emotional toll of caregiving when you’re at odds with the person you’re fighting for. It’s raw, real, and a window into the quiet desperation that often gets left out of the story. Connect with me if you're on a similar path at www.carrieseverson.com or https://www.instagram.com/authorcarrieseverson/

In this episode of I Saved You. Now, Do the Dishes., I pull back the curtain on the chaotic world of cancer treatment scheduling and pain management. Spoiler: it’s less “organized care plan” and more “full-time logistical nightmare.” From juggling 12 appointments in a week to coordinating three different pharmacy pick-ups (yes, really) for five different drugs, I talk about what it’s like to be the caregiver, the calendar, and the human pharmacy technician—all while trying to make sure my husband isn’t suffering in silence. If you’ve ever felt like managing care takes more energy than the illness itself, this one’s for you. You’re not alone. And yes, it's okay to have someone else do the damn dishes.

In this episode of the I Saved You. Now, Do the Dishes podcast, I open up about the unexpected challenges of caregiving in a hospital setting—specifically, the overwhelming and overstimulating experience of the chemo floor. From the constant beeping of machines to the emotional weight of the space, I share how it all became too much and what I did (or didn’t do) to cope. If you’ve ever felt like you were drowning in the noise and chaos of caregiving, this one’s for you. 

In this episode of I Saved You. Now, Do the Dishes., I share how I discovered unexpected silver linings throughout my husband’s cancer journey, as well as my alter ego (hello, Spicy Viking!).  And, even though I shared the importance of finding simple joys in episode five, I dive in a bit more in this episode. Finding small, simple joys that brighten even the darkest days is important as a caregiver.  As always, I'm raw and honest as I talk about the moments of grace that emerged from the chaos—the stolen glimmers of laughter, love, and connection that made the burden feel a little lighter.  Whether you’re walking a similar path or seeking hope in hardship, this episode is a reminder that even in the messiest seasons, laughter and little pops of normalcy can still shine through.

In this episode of the I Saved You. Now, Do the Dishes podcast, I share my thoughts around a recent AARP article about what to know before becoming a caregiver to your spouse—and why it left me feeling disappointed. While the article offers practical insights, I thought it was insensitive and degrading toward caregivers. The raw, human reality of what it means to stand by your partner through illness is shared by every generation today. And even though there are more Baby Boomer caregivers, I'm offering insight as a Generation Xer. I share my own experiences of caregiving, highlighting the deeply personal and often painful conversations my husband and I had to have before he began treatment. From confronting difficult truths to learning how to live in the moment, this episode offers an honest glimpse into the emotional resilience and connection it takes to navigate a life-changing diagnosis together. If you aren't already following me on social channels, please do at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarrieseverson/. 

In this episode of the I Saved You. Now, Do the Dishes Podcast, I respond to some of the comments I’ve received on previous episodes—things like “You’re so strong” or “I couldn’t have done that.”  I reflect on what those words really mean and why caregivers often don’t feel as strong as they seem.  I also dive into the emotional toll caregiving takes and why supporting caregivers is so crucial. Plus, I share a tender story about getting my husband a pizza—a small but meaningful gesture in the midst of his difficult journey. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed as a caregiver or wondered how to show up for someone who is, this episode is for you. Thanks so much for listening! If you haven't yet subscribed to the channel please do, and be sure to follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarrieseverson/

When Gavin and I met, he knew of God but didn't have a relationship with Him. Early on in our relationship, I told him that if we stayed together, we'd have to find a church together.  And that became something I felt deep down in my spirit.  Get to church.  I found one and knew it was our community before I got out of the car.  In January 2023, Gavin was so moved by our pastor that he left church and went straight to the baptismal fountain.  When he was diagnosed with cancer 10 months later, his faith ignited like never before—burning bright, steady, and unshakable.  But as his caregiver, watching him suffer and carrying the weight of our uncertain future, my faith felt more fragile than ever. As someone who grew up in church, God was always in my life. But as the spouse of a cancer patient, I couldn't see Him very well.  In this episode of the I Saved You. Now Do the Dishes Podcast, I explore the complicated, often unspoken truth about faith in crisis. What happens when one partner feels closer to God while the other struggles with doubt?  How do you navigate love, fear, and the messy middle ground of belief when life demands so much of you?  Follow me for more on https://www.instagram.com/authorcarrieseverson/  https://www.tiktok.com/@carrieseverson   www.carrieseverson.com 

In this deeply personal episode of the I Saved You. Now Do The Dishes Podcast. I share the raw truth about learning to surrender—to the uncertainty, the pain, and the moments in between—while my husband battled through cancer treatment.  As his pain intensified and narcotics became a necessity, I had to navigate not just the timing of his pain management doses, his calorie intake, and all his treatment appointments but also the weight of my own emotions.  I accepted I was back in burnout during the third week of his cancer treatment. And the thing that always helped me express pent-up emotions was finding simple joy in everyday life.  This episode is for anyone who’s ever felt alone in the struggle and needed a reminder that surrender isn’t giving up—it’s releasing fear little by little and making room for grace. Follow me for more on Instagram and TikTok. www.carrieseverson.com 

In this episode of I Saved You. Now Do the Dishes Podcast, I step fully into my caregiver alter ego—the no-nonsense, get-it-done version of myself who makes sure my husband gets to the hospital after a brutal weekend of ER visits, pain, and exhaustion. I share what it takes to push through when everything feels impossible, the mental gymnastics of managing his care, and my first-ever visit to a pot dispensary in a desperate attempt to ease his suffering. It’s raw, real, and just another Monday in the world of caregiving and cancer.  I share several tips for caregivers and advocates in this one to shine a light on the number of services available for families in need of help.  Follow me for more on Instagram and TikTok.  www.carrieseverson.com 

In this episode of I Saved You. Now Do the Dishes, we dive into the unexpected triggers that come with caregiving—the moments that catch you off guard and leave you reeling. I share a personal story about a panic attack in the middle of the cereal aisle and the unconventional way I calmed myself down (hint: it involves music, a unicorn, and a little dancing).  I also share practical tips for advocating—whether for yourself or a loved one—through the twists and turns of a health journey. From speaking up in medical settings to recognizing your own limits, this episode is all about finding balance in the chaos. You'll learn about resources we used during Gavin's cancer journey, like CaringBridge, Lasagna Love, and even a cleaning service that supported cancer patients. 

Some days change you forever, not gradually, but all at once.  When you're dealing with cancer, you'll encounter many days like that. In this episode of I Saved You. Now, Do the Dishes, I discuss a few tough days for my husband and me.  As my husband lay still inside a PET scan machine, which would light up the cancer cells in his body, I was across town on the floor of the vet's office, putting our beloved dog to sleep. Two rooms. Impossible grief in both.  I discuss the impossible weight of grief we endured while still having to continue searching for hope, laying our dog to rest, and my first taste of advocacy to ensure my husband started treatment as quickly as possible.  I offer caregiving and advocacy tips to support you and your loved ones along your journey. I pass along a tip a surgeon told us when we first started Gavin's cancer treatment plan.   This episode touches on love, loss, and the way life sometimes demands more from us than we think we can give. And yet, caregivers have to continue giving. 

In the second episode of the I Saved You. Now, Do the Dishes Podcast, I take you back to a bittersweet chapter of our lives —our first Thanksgiving in our new home. My husband and I poured our hearts into creating a special celebration for our families, even as we anxiously awaited the results of his biopsy. We hadn't heard about his test for two weeks by then. Each day felt like a year. I share the shockingly insensitive way we finally learned my husband's biopsy results came back malignant nearly three weeks after his test and how he advocated for himself to get a CT scan to learn what we were dealing with. In every episode, I also share a caregiving, advocating, or marriage tip. This episode is about the strength and compassion we found in each other and the complexities of facing life-altering news.Join me as I share what I've learned about burnout recovery, caregiver, resilience, hope, and love. 

In the debut episode of I Saved You. Do the Dishes Podcast, I take you back to the beginning of our story —when I met my husband, Gavin, when we fell in love, and how our union started. It wasn't smooth, but when we finally moved into our first home together in September 2023, it felt like a fresh start, full of excitement and endless possibilities—until life threw us a curveball. Just as we were finding our footing and getting settled in, Gavin found a lump on his neck. Suddenly, our dreams of building a brand new life together were overshadowed by fears of what that growing lump could mean. Was is cancer? Or just a big, fat, boil? How do you navigate something like that? It was terrifying. And only a few years into our marriage. This episode is about love, uncertainty, new beginnings, challenges, and how we learned to face the unknown as a team. Join me as I unpack that first step of this chapter of our lives and share what I've learned about burnout recovery, resilience, hope, and love.