03/17/2026
Something deeply meaningful is moving forward into the national conversation.
I took this weekend to sit in awe, in gratitude, and with intention around how I wanted to express this in my own words.
Stay with me for a moment, and if this resonates, let’s connect, because IT IS TIME.
We at Dream’s Garden have been building, growing, and doing the work. From that work, a vision and proposal emerged: The Dream’s Caregiver Health and Wellness Act.
On Thursday, 2/12/2026, Congressman Mike Lawler introduced this legislation. Inspired by the life and legacy of Dream Ioni Shepherd and the lived experiences of her mother, Diana Lemon.
At its core, this bill proposes $250 million in funding for nonprofits supporting caregivers.
As a caretaker I had the privilege and the heartbreak of caring for my father, over the span of 2-ish years during his journey through cancer and ultimately to the space of hospice at home. It was an intense and sacred two weeks of end-of-life care. That I am still recalibrating from. My father passed on 2/1/2024. My mother now lives with my husband and I as we continue navigating life after his passing and the ongoing complexities of her own health and wellness challenges.
Caregiving is sacred work.
It is also demanding, exhausting, and often invisible.
It moves people through layers of grief, trauma, burnout, and profound love- sometimes all in the same moment.
As a master practitioner and the owner of Willow Wisp Wellness, I have had the profound honor of supporting individuals and families including Dream and Diana through some of the most vulnerable and transformative moments of their lives.
In these moments, holistic care is not a luxury it is essential. Caregivers are navigating nervous system overwhelm, emotional strain, anticipatory grief, burnout, and the long arc of healing that follows loss.
What this legislation recognizes is that supporting caregivers requires an entire ecosystem of care and funding.
Caregivers deserve care.
The professionals and organizations who support them deserve resources.
And healing must become part of how we design policy, programs, and community infrastructure.
