When the Caregiver Needs Care: My Journey Through Caregiving, Healing & Starting Over
The Floridant/10321800

ORLANDO, Fla. - Floridant -- This November, as the nation observes National Family Caregivers Month, Emmy-nominated television producer and video marketing strategist Deborah Mitchell joins the national conversation with an inspiring story of resilience, reinvention, and recovery. Mitchell—the founder and CEO of Deborah Mitchell Media & Associates (DMMA)—recently shared her deeply personal caregiving and entrepreneurship journey on the Unstuck Your Business podcast, episode "Business, Profits, and Aging Parents,"  hosted by Edith Duran of Riza Marketing and Inez Nazario-Vega of Business Essentials Virtual Assistant.

The episode, offers a heartfelt look at what happens when an entrepreneur and full-time caregiver must also learn to care for herself. For Mitchell, that realization came in 2024, when severe arthritic hip pain brought her to her knees—literally.

"I could no longer walk or drive," Mitchell recalls. "When the orthopedic surgeon told me I needed both hips replaced, I asked if we could do them at the same time. He said no. I cried the whole way home."

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At the time, Mitchell was managing a thriving media consultancy while serving as the primary caregiver for her then 95-year-old mother, Ms. Rita. The dual responsibilities—leading a growing business and caring for a loved one—became unsustainable. Recognizing the need for change, Mitchell made the difficult but necessary decision to pause business operations, downsize her team, and focus on her own health and her caregiving duties.

With the unwavering support of friends, colleagues, and her faith, she underwent two separate hip replacement surgeries and embarked on an eight-month recovery journey. Along the way, she developed her own healing philosophy—a four-part framework that continues to guide her today.

Her mantra became "Rehab. Recovery. Rest. Rebuild." Four powerful words that helped her navigate the physical challenges of surgery, the emotional toll of caregiving, and the uncertainty of temporarily stepping away from her business. Each stage represented more than a step in recovery—it was a blueprint for personal and professional rebirth.

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Her experience reflects the heart of National Family Caregivers Month, a time to recognize the more than 53 million Americans who provide unpaid care to aging parents and loved ones. The 2025 observance highlights not only the emotional and physical toll caregivers face but also the power of self-care, community, and compassion. Mitchell is moving with gratitude and renewed purpose. "I thank God for modern medicine and for the incredible people who surrounded me with love and encouragement," she says.

🎧 Listen to the full interview here: Unstuck Your Business Podcast (https://open.spotify.com/episode/45d0PKFGdngIvxGbsyNv0r?si=eWsCZPWTSwOVEvU5vj7BZw)