This is an I-Heart podcast.

And we return to our American stories.

Next, we have a listener story from Deborah Freeberg. Deborah is here to share part

of a heartwarming story she wrote about caring for her father in his time of need. Let's take a listen.

In this season of my childhood, my parents were my guides and teachers. They taught honesty and

fairness. They taught that you don't accomplish anything without

hard work and perseverance. It was in their actions that I learned that faith and family were paramount.

Every month or so, we drive to the tiny town of Houtsdale, Pennsylvania to visit Grandma and Grandpa

Freeburg. Every summer, we drive across the vastness of Ohio in Indiana to reach Crystal Lake, Illinois,

and spend a few weeks with Grandma and Grandpa Johnson.

Vacations were always equated with trips to family.

My parents attended almost every family event they could.

Anniversaries, baptisms, weddings, reunions, and funerals.

Family was important.

Caring for family was important.

During my college years, I remember the care that my parents displayed for their parents.

Grandpa Freberg had multiple strokes, and Grandma Freberg slid into dementia after he passed.

The road from Pittsburgh to the nursing home in Johnstown was well-traveled.

Grandma Johnson's repeated surgeries had my parents flying back and forth to Tucson from Pittsburgh,

occasionally even driving cross-country.

It took its toll, but that's what family did for one another.

And now it was my turn.

...