Caregiver Spotlight - Sevyn
📸 Family Photo: From left to right: Sevyn mom with sons Tobias (2 years), Sebastian (5 months), August (3 years) and husband Cam’Ron
💛 Caregiver Spotlight: Sevyn- wife, mom, and caregiver 💛
Today we’re honored to spotlight Sevyn, a caregiver in our community, to share part of her story. Sevyn has been caring for her son, Tobias for two years.
When describing what daily life looks like, she shared
“A typical day for me is a constant balancing act between high-needs medical care and the energetic demands of raising three children under the age of three. Tobias requires an intensive regimen for his eczema, including daily specialized baths, various creams, and bi-monthly injections. Because his dermatology specialists are out of town, our care also involves the added challenge of long-distance travel with three little ones in tow.
Developmentally, we are navigating the world of undiagnosed autism. Since Tobias is non-verbal, his frustration often manifests in self-injury, like head-banging, or physical aggression toward me. My primary focus is keeping him and his two brothers (both under age 4) safe, while simultaneously acting as his 'voice.'
Our weeks are built around a rigorous schedule of appointments: weekly speech therapy, along with occupational therapy and early intervention twice a month. Between the medical needs, the sensory cycles, and the unpredictable nature of meals, my day is defined by constant vigilance, deep patience, and the hope that each therapy session brings us one step closer to understanding his world."
One of the hardest parts of caregiving has been the physical and mental exhaustion of being a human shield. “I have to protect him from injuring himself, protect his brothers from the outbursts, and somehow keep myself together through the bruises and the screams. My weeks are a blur of speech therapy, OT, and early intervention, and by the time I finally sit down, I feel like I’ve run a marathon just to keep everyone safe and fed.
It’s the feeling of being completely 'on' every second of the day, with no room for error, while carrying the heavy hope that all this therapy will eventually give him the voice he’s struggling to find.”
What has helped her keep going is a combination of her faith, her family, and her own creative outlets. “As a Christian, prayer is my constant conversation throughout the day; it’s where I find the patience to be a "translator" for Tobias and the peace to keep my heart open when things get overwhelming. My husband is truly my rock in a hard place, standing by me through every outburst and flare-up, and my mom is a huge help in managing the "marathon" of appointments and travel. I also find so much strength in my Facebook mom group where I can share the "quiet parts of motherhood" and feel seen by others who understand this life. Finally, once the boys are finally asleep and the house is still, I turn to my painting and crafts; those quiet moments of creativity allow me to reclaim my identity and process the day, reminding me that even in the middle of the noise, there is still room for beauty.”
One thing she wishes more people understood about caregiving is that being a mother to children with complex medical and developmental challenges is a specialized form of labor that goes far beyond traditional parenting. It is a 24/7 role where the boundaries between "Mom," "Nurse," and "Therapist" completely disappear. “While others might see my day as just raising kids, I am actually operating as a full-time case manager—overseeing a relentless schedule of therapies and out-of-town specialists—and a medical technician who must confidently administer injections and intensive treatments.” There is also a constant, invisible level of hyper-vigilance required to act as a "translator" and protector in a home where non-verbal frustrations can turn into physical danger at any moment. This kind of motherhood counts as caregiving because it demands the precision of a professional and the endurance of a first responder, all while carrying the emotional weight of two toddlers under the age of 4. It is a high-stakes, exhausting marathon that requires a level of expertise and sacrifice that most people will never have to see, let alone experience.
And when asked what she would want another caregiver to hear today, she shared: "You aren't "just" a parent or a caregiver; you are a lifeline, a translator for the silent, and a protector for your family. It is okay to be tired, it is okay to lean on your faith when your own strength runs dry, and it is absolutely necessary to find those small "quiet parts" of the day to reclaim your own heart, whether through prayer or a creative outlet. You are carrying a weight that most people will never understand, but you are not carrying it alone—keep showing up, keep breathing through the hard moments, and know that the love and advocacy you provide every single day is a powerful, heroic act.”
Thank you Sevyn for sharing your story. Every caregiver story matters, and we’re grateful to share and celebrate the people like you caring for others each day. Caregiving can feel invisible at times, but no caregiver should feel unseen. Thank you for being a vital part of this community. To every caregiver reading this: what you do matters more than you know.
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If her story impacted you, and you would like to donate towards a meal, you can at the link below. For the Caregivers is a fund of the Community Foundation of West Tennessee.
