Caregiving, Grief and Resilience With Rachel Kerr Schneider
October 16, 2026
When someone you love receives an ALS diagnosis, the future can suddenly feel unfamiliar. Caregiving brings practical decisions, changing relationships, and emotions that are difficult to put into words.
In episode 156 of A Time to Care: The Caregivers Podcast, Isabel Melgarejo welcomes Rachel Kerr Schneider for a conversation about caregiving, anticipatory grief, faith, and resilience. Rachel draws on her experience caring for her husband, John, after his ALS diagnosis. Together, they explore how to ask for help, communicate with family, and care for yourself through an uncertain season.
Watch the conversation with Rachel Kerr Schneider
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1ZoMw5d8IM[/embed]Episode 156 · Released October 16, 2026
Making space for anticipatory grief
Caregiving can involve grieving changes while a loved one is still with you. Rachel and Isabel discuss anticipatory grief as part of Rachel's experience with ALS, alongside the daily responsibility of supporting someone you love.
The conversation makes room for more than one feeling. Love, uncertainty, gratitude, and sadness can all be part of a caregiving relationship. Hearing another caregiver describe that experience can offer a starting point for conversations that otherwise feel difficult to begin.
Asking for help with realistic expectations
One theme in Rachel's story is the difference between needing support and knowing what others can realistically offer. Family members and friends may have different capacities, skills, and limits. Unspoken expectations can add strain when everyone is already navigating change.
Rachel and Isabel explore the value of clarity: recognizing what support is needed, asking for it, and being honest about what each person can contribute. This is a conversation about building a support system without assuming that everyone can help in the same way.
Having family conversations before a crisis
Difficult conversations rarely become easier simply because they are postponed. In this episode, Isabel and Rachel discuss talking openly before circumstances force a rushed decision.
For families listening together, the episode offers several questions for reflection:
- What expectations about caregiving have we left unspoken?
- What kind of help would make the greatest difference right now?
- Who can contribute, and what can each person realistically do?
- Which conversations are we avoiding because they feel uncomfortable?
These questions can open a discussion about the family's needs. There is no requirement to resolve every difficult issue in one sitting.
Faith, resilience, and caring for yourself
Rachel also shares how her faith became a source of hope and resilience. Her perspective is personal to her journey, including the relationship between gratitude, loss, and finding strength in difficult circumstances.
Throughout the conversation, caring for a loved one and caring for yourself remain connected. The caregiver's need for support deserves attention alongside the practical work of coordinating care.
About Rachel Kerr Schneider
Rachel Kerr Schneider is a CEO, author, speaker, and entrepreneur associated with Spirited Prosperity. Her memoir, The Widow Chose Red, shares her journey with Jesus, John, and ALS.
Listen to the audio episode, or watch the full conversation above. For more support with the responsibilities families carry, explore Caregiving Shouldn't Mean Carrying It Alone.
Find people who understand the caregiving journey
Time to Care brings family caregivers together for practical guidance and shared support. If this conversation reflects something you are navigating, you are welcome to take the next step at your own pace.