The Client Who Built Me

There are clients who build us without ever realizing they're doing it.

For me, one of those people was Gerry.

When I met him, I was still learning what it meant to be a private caregiver. I had left my job at the hospital to start Kayla Cares, and while I believed in what I was building, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't terrified. Every day I questioned myself. Was I doing enough? Was I making the right decision? Was I really cut out to run my own caregiving business?

Then there was Gerry.

He was my second full-time client.

I still laugh when I think about the day we met. I pulled into his driveway five minutes early, feeling pretty proud of myself for being ahead of schedule.

I walked through the door, and the first thing he said was, "You're late."

I looked at him completely confused.

Later, I learned one of Gerry's rules:

"If you're ten minutes early, you're on time. If you're on time, you're late."

That was my introduction to Gerry.

I only had the privilege of caring for him during what ended up being the last couple of months of his life.

Looking back, it doesn't seem like nearly enough time.

Somewhere between the home-cooked meals, the history lessons, the stories about Germany, the paintings that filled his home, and all the laughter, our relationship stopped feeling like caregiver and client.

It started feeling like family.

Within a week or two, I wasn't Kayla anymore.

I was simply "the kid."

Every time I walked through the door, he'd look over at Marley, his dog, and announce, "The kid's here!"

It became our routine, and somehow, hearing those three little words always made me smile.

What means even more to me is that after Gerry passed away, that feeling of family didn't disappear.

His children still treat me like family.

We still check in on each other. We still share stories about Gerry. You still make me feel welcome.

I think that's one of the greatest gifts this profession has given me.

Sometimes you're hired as a caregiver.

If you're lucky, you leave as family.

People often ask me why I left the hospital to start my own caregiving business.

The answer isn't a business plan.

It's people like Gerry.

When a grumpy old German can open his home to a 24-year-old, trust her with the last chapter of his life, call her "kid," and make her feel like family...

You realize you made the right choice.

Gerry reminded me that caregiving isn't about tasks.

It's about relationships.

It's about earning trust.

It's about sitting down for lunch or dinner because he refused to eat unless you did.

It's about listening to stories you've heard before because you know how much they mean to the person telling them.

It's about becoming part of someone's life, even if only for a little while.

I thought I was there to help Gerry through the end of his story.

Looking back, I think he was helping me write the beginning of mine.

He didn't just build my confidence.

He helped build the caregiver I am today.

And for that, I'll spend the rest of my career grateful that I got to be "the kid."

So, as I sit here writing this, I can't help but look back on those few short months and realize just how much they changed me.

Thank you, Gerry.

Thank you for trusting a 24-year-old with the last chapter of your life. Thank you for the stories, the laughter, the history lessons, the home-cooked meals, and for making me feel like family. Thank you for helping me believe that I had made the right choice in starting Kayla Cares.

And thank you to your family for continuing to make me feel like "the kid." Your kindness has meant more than you'll ever know.

Happy Heavenly Birthday, Gerry.

I'd like to think you're up there with your wife and your dogs, watching over the people you loved most. And when your kids travel to places like Japan, Alaska, or somewhere new, I like to imagine you're right there beside them—reliving the adventures you once shared and smiling as they make new memories of their own.

No matter where you are, I hope you know your story didn't end when you left this world.

You're still building people.

You're still building me.

And somehow... even after you're gone, you're still teaching me.

But that's a story for another day.

With love,

Your Kid

Kayla Cares LLC | Where personalized care meets the comfort of your home | 605-510-7952 | Providing trusted, compassionate care in the Black Hills.