Caregivers need to decompress

Dear Editor:

My name is Tiffany McGlorthon and I am the president and founder of TeQuilla’s Twin Towers Mini-Camp. We are an approved 501 (C) (3) not-for-profit organization. We are planning to build a resort for special need families to vacation. We call this project “Rest for the Restless.”

Our project is set up to give parents and caregivers an opportunity to decompress. We encourage stress relievers such as bicycle riding, tennis, basketball, bowling, miniature golfing, spa treatments and other activities to take a timeout and regroup.

My expertise comes from being the mother of a special needs child. There had to be a caregiver around the clock for my daughter. She needed occupational therapy, physical therapy and respiratory treatments. She had to be given milk through feeding tubes to keep her at an acceptable weight. I had to turn her over every 30 minutes to keep her from getting bedsores. We spent two to three weeks out the month at least every other month in the hospital, not to mention the doctor’s appointments in other facilities such as the Shriners Hospital.

I had no one to come and give me relief up until the last few months of her life, which was nine years after she was diagnosed in 1991. I felt overwhelmed with the everyday stresses of no breaks, no vacations and no family time due to her being isolated because of her low immune system.

During the last few months of her life, I suffered a major anxiety attack from all the stress and toll on my body. I was given a major painkiller and muscle relaxer and therefore was unable to care for my daughter. Hospice was brought in as a backup caregiver because I had no outside assistance.

This is why it is so important for parents and caregivers to have the appropriate breaks to take a decompression in order to take further care of the child or loved one. Although my daughter has passed away, I know all too well what happens when you don’t take a break or time out.

This leads to many health problems and if we are not careful we as the caregivers are subject to heart and anxiety attacks, as well as other underlying health issues we may not be aware of. Our goal is to stress the importance of health to our parents and caregivers by having groups, seminars and meetings. Through TeQuilla’s Twin Towers Mini-Camp, we are designing and leading projects related to health, nutrition, relaxation and exercise, which involve thousands of families.

Currently, our group is planning a project to promote health and wellness for the parents and caregivers. We expect to accomplish our goals by teaching the parents and caregivers the importance of decompression or time out.

 We would like to invite businesses to be a part of our efforts by cause partnering to help parents and caregivers have a spa day out. This would include nails, massage and hair treatments. We are looking to do the event on Oct. 22. We’re expecting 50 parents and 50 children with special needs to participate in our project deemed “Rest for the Restless,” which will be a model for other entities.

We have a plan to publicize this project as we proceed and will be happy to recognize your businesses contribution in our promotional materials and in later reports on the project in our newsletter, on our website and through other communications to the public.

Tiffany McGlorthon

President/ Founder

TeQuilla’s Twin Towers Mini-Camp, Inc.

Email: tequillatiffany@ yahoo.com or tequillastwintowerresort@gmail.com

Phone: 813-399-6083

Website: testwintowers.weebly.com