Sacred Love: Vignettes on Caregiving and Family

This is a collection of stories about my experience as a caregiver. They are stories of love and loss, of strength and fragility, of courage and fear, of unwavering commitment, unshakable bonds and grace under pressure. It is my sincere hope that these words may resonate with my fellow caregivers and those who love and support them.

Vignette Fleury became primary caregiver to her mother who has Alzheimer's and her sister, Iraissa who had Down syndrome, in May 2007 after her beloved father died unexpectedly of a heart attack. She cared for both of them in her home until the passing of Iraissa in February 2020. Her mother who is 90 continues to reside with her. Vignette is the proud daughter of immigrants. Her father and mother emigrated to the United States from Haiti and the Dominican Republic respectively. She was born and raised in Brooklyn and moved to Central NJ in 2003. She has a Bachelor degree from Baruch College and worked as an accountant for approximately 17 years. In the Fall of 2009, she walked away from that field and went on to obtain a Master of Arts degree in Bilingual\Bicultural Studies form LaSalle University. She has worked as a Spanish interpreter for approximately 12 years. In 2022 she rediscovered her passion for writing after responding to a call for writing submissions from the McCarter theater and the 'Healing Voices' project. The piece she submitted was included in the McCarter's 'Healing Voices' performance in the Spring of 2022. She went on to write over 20 short stories that she has shared on Moth stages in Philadelphia, New York and Brooklyn. She is currently working on publishing a book of poetry.