She cared for her mother for 14 years. She says she'd do it all over again

NPR | By Kat McGowan,

Eric McDaniel

Published March 22, 2026 at 8:23 AM EDT

Kathy Barnes-Lou cared for her mother for 14 years before her death. She learned that caregiving can bring life's purpose into focus, even as it grinds you down.

Kat McGowan

Eric McDaniel

Eric McDaniel edits the NPR Politics Podcast. He joined the program ahead of its 2019 relaunch as a daily podcast.

See stories by Eric McDaniel

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