Episode 159 - The Caretaker: A Conversation with Daniel Shapiro

<p><strong>ABOUT THIS EPISODE</strong></p> <p>Daniel Shapiro is a University of Chicago Law School graduate. He has been a trial lawyer for many years and is a lifetime Chicagoan. He spends his free time reading and socializing with his grown children. His debut book, The Thin Ledge i,s a raw and real telling of coping with his wife’s severe brain trauma. He's currently working on his second book, a novel about an aging lawyer, late-career ambition, and ethnicity in a changing, awakened society.</p> <p>In the The Thin Ledge, Daniel recounts the realities of living through his wife's mental and physical decline as a result of a dreadful illness in this very honest book. When Daniel’s wife, Susan, suffered a brain bleed and was told her prognosis was uncertain, he was a successful attorney in his early forties. The couple, stunned and with three small children, made the best of the next few years before a major second hemorrhage changed everything. Susan's physical abilities to speak, see, and walk were severely hampered. Mentally, she descended into sadness and underwent a significant personality shift.</p> <p>​In this episode, Daniel shares his experiences as a caregiver to his wife and how he was able to cope with the difficult diagnosis. He discusses how he looked to Judaism for help and why he chose his faith to find answers among the confusion and fear. He also talks about how his life transformed and the love, commitment, loss and resilience he faced throughout this profound period of his life.</p> <p><strong>HIGHLIGHTS</strong></p> <p>00:00 Daniel’s early life and education</p> <p>13:08 The power of authenticity and sharing personal experiences to make an impact</p> <p>17:51 The amazing achievements of the Jewish community</p> <p>21:07 Coping with news of a loved one being diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury</p> <p>24:47 Losing yourself and your state of being</p> <p>26:21 How did your life transform after the diagnosis?</p> <p>30:27 The limitations of a caretaker</p> <p>35:18 Calling on Judaism during