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 6:23 AM MDT

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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.

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Kat McGowan

Eric McDaniel

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