ASuccess Story: Local mom turned struggles and setbacks into triumph

By Sabrina Bates

Chyritha Ratliff-Shinault, affectionately known as "Chee Chee" by her friends and family, has seen her share of life lessons. As a Certified Nursing Assistant for 30 years of her life, she had long dreamed of furthering her certification in the field of caregiving as a nurse. Her story is filled with highs and lows and eventually triumph, as she worked hard to be able to now "choose" to work two jobs.

It was not unusual to see this mom working three jobs over the last three decades to make ends meet. Chyritha said in high school, she aspired to be a physical therapist for the NBAor NFL.

"I wanted to make that big money and I love sports," she recalled. After getting married and having two children, life took her down a different path. In 1999, she went back to school at Itawamba Community College (ICC) to get her grade point average up to be able to pursue an RN degree. Her testing was one of many challenges in life. She missed the mark by two-tenths of a point. That was in 2000. Three years later, she lost her husband and father of her two kids. Not long after, her son Jazz was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre Syndrome, a rare neurological disorder where the immune system attacks the nervous system. Jazz was only nine years old.

Caregiving: Self-care isn't selfish

By Sabrina Bates

Chyritha and her mother opted for a shared-custody situation to allow her mother to help get Jazz to and from treatments at LeBonheur Children's Medical Hospital in Memphis.

She had already been a CNA and said it was difficult to sit back and watch the medical professionals without interference.

"Watching your child suffer and there is nothing you can do about it is the worst feeling," Chyritha shared. She watched with an "eagle eye" as the team at LeBonheur had to break his immune system down and build it back. Jazz had to learn to walk and write again. He even had to learn to retrain his bladder as a result of the neurological damage. With the help of therapist Mike Bell, who provided aquatic therapy for Jazz at the pool in Corinth, he is now a happy, healthy 31-year-old and Staff Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps.

"With God, they saved my child. I will be forever grateful to all of them. When they released Jazz, they gave him a caterpillar that they had signed. He still has it today," Chyritha recalled.

In 2005, she went back to school to try to enhance her nursing certification once again. She was shooting for the Licensed Practical Nurse certification. Another test saw her miss it by only one point.

"I was devastated. But my two prayer warriors - my mom and my sister - kept reminding me that I was just delayed, not denied in God's plan," Chyritha shared. As her sons grew older and had their sights set on post-secondary education, she picked up three jobs to help them get through school. In the meantime, she was also taking classes at ICC to earn an associate's degree. Her hard work and determination paid off.

She and her two oldest sons graduated within one day of each other, all three earning their associate's degrees the same weekend. She see SHINAULT on pg 4

This month's local spotlights seem to have a resounding theme as the people featured share a common bond. They are caregivers. From caring for local youth, the elderly and family members, these women take their generous spirit and pour into others daily. How is it that they manage to take care of themselves and others? They will say it takes a balance and meeting their own needs adequately to be in the best position to support others.

According to the AARP, there are approximately 470,000 unpaid caregivers in Mississippi. More than half of those caregivers are women. Information from the Centers for Disease Control shows that nearly one-third of those provide care for more than 20 hours each week. When looking at the number of people in the state who do fill the role of caregiving, 36 percent are taking care of a parent or parent-in-law.

Across the nation, there is an estimated 42 million people who are caring for someone over the age of 50.

To balance the demands of caregiving and care for oneself - the CDC notes, "self-care isn't selfish."

"To continue being a good caregiver, you need to take care of yourself. One way you can do that is to make sure you have consistent breaks from your caregiving responsibilities. This is called respite. Short breaks can be a key part of maintaining your own health," the CDC notes.

Respite care allows a caregiver to take some much-needed time off. Some agencies can offer a break for caregivers, along with family and friends. Many Areas on Aging and Disability offer respite-care services, some at little to no cost.

For caregivers, it is recommended that they let their own doctors know they are fulfilling that role. Sometimes, anxiety and depression may be associated with the demands of caregiving. Doctors may even be able to "prescribe" respite care through Medicare's PACE program.

The CDC also notes the importance of caregivers not neglecting their own personal health, as nearly two out of five suffer from at least two chronic health conditions.

The Mississippi Family Caregiver Support Program works in partnership with the 10 Area Agencies on Aging and local community service providers to provide five basic services for family caregivers, including:

• Information to care- see CAREGIVING on pg 4

In the fast-paced and everchanging world we inhabit, it is easy to become ensnared in the web of modernity, where relentless demands and incessant pressures consume every ounce of our existence. However, amidst the whirlwind of responsibilities lies a profound truth: the significance of living a balanced life that harmonizes mental, physical, and spiritual well-being. Today, we delve into the essence of this elusive art and explore why it is a paramount pursuit for all individuals. We pride ourselves on having our vehicle tires balanced to ensure a smooth ride, yet we fail to focus on living a balanced life.

Mental equilibrium serves as the cornerstone upon which a fulfilling life is built. A sound mind is not merely the