This week on the podcast, I had the privilege of sitting down with the incredible Tracy Carroll, a woman whose strength, honesty, and love left me deeply moved.
With over 500,000 family carers in Ireland, Tracy is a leading voice for parents and carers of children with life-limiting disabilities. She is a passionate advocate for those who cannot advocate for themselves - children who deserve to be seen, heard, and supported.
Tracy is Mum to two superheroes, Willow and Noah, and wife to John. Since Willow suffered a brain injury shortly after her birth in 2016, Tracy has been a full-time carer, devoting her life to her daughter’s needs. In our conversation, she opened up about the daily realities of caregiving - the exhaustion, the heartache, the endless appointments -but also the immense love and joy that fill her home.
Tracy’s story is not just one of courage and resilience, it is a call to action. We are all just one step away from becoming a carer ourselves - whether for a child, a parent, or a partner. If that day came for you, how would you want to be supported?
What struck me most in speaking with Tracy was her wisdom about grief — not grief in the loss of a person, but grief for the life you thought you and your child might have had. She spoke of how she has learned to hold space for that grief, while also finding peace in acceptance and celebrating her daughter for exactly who she is.
Her words resonated so deeply with me, as my own sister, Bonnie, was left physically and mentally disabled after contracting meningitis just three days after birth. She was the angel of our house, and my mother became her voice and her carer. Listening to Tracy brought me right back to those moments of watching my mother carry so much - the love, the fight, and the heartbreak of navigating a system that so often does not provide enough support.
Tracy’s story reminds us that carers are not just quietly coping in the background - they are holding families, and often entire lives, together. They need to be seen, heard, and supported by all of us.
I invite you to listen to this powerful episode, to sit with Tracy’s words, and to reflect on how we as a society can do better. Carers like Tracy should not have to shout to be heard - but until they are given the resources, respect, and recognition they deserve, voices like hers are essential.
This conversation is one that will stay with me, and I hope it stays with you too.
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Sharon Fitzmaurice
Holistic Wellness Coach, Author & Podcast Host