Terrence Ho

My caregiving journey began at a young age, when my brother Torrance was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy — a progressive degenerative muscle condition — at the age of six. Then, in 2019, my journey evolved when my mother Mimi was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. She died less than two years later in 2021.

As a sibling caregiver, and a caregiver to my mom, I have witnessed my family members’ physical and mental health decline. At the same time, I experienced personal stresses, and burnout from providing care while navigating my own life as a young adult.

Despite the challenges, I feel immense pride in caring and advocating for my family. These life experiences have allowed me to advocate and advise others in navigating the healthcare system. It has also directed my career to support the aging and those with disabilities. I am currently the head of partner success at Braze Mobility, where we’ve created the world’s first blind spot sensors for wheelchairs. I have also trained as an end-of-life care doula, which has helped me prepare for my mom and brother’s end-of-life wishes and enabled me to see the beauty and power of the dying process.

The support I have received along the way has helped me in my role as a caregiver — from the professional healthcare service providers offering me grief counseling and therapy, to the community of support and resources I have accessed through Siblings Canada.

I am grateful to the many people and groups who have supported me in my caregiving journey. I share my story as part of my own healing process and to let others facing similar challenges know they’re not alone.