In this heartfelt episode of Life in the A-Zone, Peggy sits down with hospice nurse consultant Craig Schaap for a deeply moving conversation about caregiving, end-of-life care, and the unexpected moments of grace that can arise during life’s most difficult seasons.

Craig shares his experience spending six years at the bedside of terminally ill patients and their families, and his current work with Gentiva Hospice in Baton Rouge. Together, Peggy and Craig explore what hospice truly is (and what it isn’t), when families should begin to consider it, and the emotional realities caregivers often carry silently.

Craig also shares a deeply personal story about his father’s final fishing trip—and how, to this day, he honors him by throwing the first fish he catches back into the water. It’s a simple but powerful reminder of how love, memory, and connection continue long after goodbye.

Peggy reflects on her own journey when her mother was placed on hospice and the roller coaster of emotions during those final weeks before her passing from Alzheimer’s, along with the Pink Cloud Moments that helped her find peace and meaning along the way.

This conversation offers comfort, clarity, and compassion for anyone navigating caregiving or facing end-of-life decisions. It is a reminder that even in letting go, there can be love, meaning, and moments of light.

#HospiceCare #GriefJourney #MomentsOfGrace #HealingThroughGrief #CaregiverLife #Alzheimers #Dementia #Loveandloss

There was a time when Easter felt like magic.

New dresses laid out the night before. White shoes worn just once a year. The smell of ham in the oven after church.

Baskets filled with chocolate bunnies, jellybeans, and just enough surprise to make you believe in something wonderful.

And at the center of it all… family.

But as life moves forward, holidays begin to change. The tables look different. The traditions shift. And sometimes, the joy is held alongside something heavier—grief.

In this heartfelt episode of Life in the A-Zone, Peggy reflects on the beauty of Easter memories while navigating the quiet ache of what has been lost. Through storytelling and reflection, she explores what it means to hold both joy and grief at the same time—and how, even in the midst of change, love remains.

This episode includes a special revisit of A Basket of Memories, a deeply personal story that captures the spirit of Easter, past and present.

Whether you are celebrating, remembering, or simply getting through the day, this episode is a gentle reminder:

You are not alone.

And sometimes, in the middle of it all…there is still a Pink Cloud Moment waiting.

#Easter #Eastermemories #grief #caregiving #Alzheimers #dementia #caregiverjourney #memoir #family #motherdaughter #lifeintheAzone #pinkcloudmoments #storytelling

In this deeply moving episode of Life in the A-Zone, Peggy Sweeney-McDonald sits down with author Karen McCord to talk about the life and legacy of her daughter, beloved sports journalist Carley McCord, who tragically lost her life in a 2019 plane crash while traveling to cover the LSU playoff game in Atlanta.

Karen shares memories of Carley’s vibrant life—from her early days as a pageant queen to her rising career in sports journalism—and reflects on the unimaginable grief that followed her sudden loss.

In the midst of this tragedy, Karen had recently lost her father, and her mother was living in a nursing home with Alzheimer’s—yet she found a way to navigate both grief and caregiving at the same time.

Karen’s memoir Only Rainbows: The Carley McCord Story tells the story of her family’s journey through heartbreak toward healing, reminding us that grief changes us—but it doesn’t have to destroy us.

Peggy and Karen also reflect on how they met while walking around a neighborhood lake, encouraging each other to keep writing and share their stories.

This episode is a powerful conversation about loss, grief, faith, resilience, and the unexpected moments of grace that sometimes appear in the darkest times.

Listen now and share with someone who may need a little hope today.

#grief #faith #lossofachild #resilience #healing #author #memoir #caregiving #alzheimers #loss #motherdauther #love #family #findinghope #dayatatime #womensvoices