About Donna
Welcome. I'm glad you're here.
Whatever brings you here today, I hope you'll find something that resonates with you, offers encouragement, and perhaps makes your journey feel just a little lighter.
For more than 35 years, my personal and professional lives have been intertwined. As a registered dietitian, I worked in hospitals, research, and public health, helping people make informed decisions about their health. At home, I found myself walking a very different path—one I never expected.
Over the years, three of the people I loved most faced life-threatening illnesses at young ages: my infant daughter, my husband, and my youngest son. Those experiences became my new reality.
My daughter was diagnosed with Wilms tumor just before her first birthday. She endured three major surgeries and nearly two years of chemotherapy. Today, she is a healthy adult, has completed graduate school, and is the mother of two wonderful boys. Her story continues to remind me that hope is real, even in the most difficult seasons.
My husband was diagnosed with throat cancer at age 39 and later developed acute myeloid leukemia. My youngest son was diagnosed with Fanconi anemia, a rare inherited bone marrow failure disorder, at age 24. Both underwent extraordinary treatments, including bone marrow transplantation, and both have since passed away. Their courage, humor, and determination continue to shape the way I see life.
Being both a healthcare professional and a family caregiver gave me a unique perspective. I understood the medical system, but I also experienced the uncertainty, exhaustion, grief, and love that every caregiver knows. Along the way, I discovered practical coping strategies and meaningful resources that helped sustain me.
I created Caregiver Tea Time because I wanted to offer something I wished I had during those years—a chance to hear someone else's caregiving journey, learn from their experiences, and feel a little less alone.
Today, my life has entered a new chapter. While caregiving shaped much of my journey, I also know that many people face other significant life transitions: retirement, relocation, loss, and the challenge of creating a meaningful future after a season of caring for others. My hope is that the lessons I've learned and shared through Caregiver Tea Time continue to encourage anyone who is navigating change.
Everything I share through Caregiver Tea Time comes from my own experiences and reflections. It is not intended to replace medical advice or professional care. Rather, I hope it offers comfort, practical ideas, and encouragement as you continue your own journey.
So, pour yourself a cup of your favorite tea. Then settle in, take a deep breath, and join me for Caregiver Tea Time. I'm honored you're here.
Who is Val Halloway?
When I first began sharing my family's story, I chose to use the pen name Val Halloway. At that time, it gave me the emotional space to speak openly while protecting some of the privacy surrounding my experiences. As I continue writing, sharing, and encouraging others, it feels right to do so under my own name.
While my name has changed, my purpose has not. I remain committed to offering honest conversation, practical encouragement, and hope to caregivers and others navigating life's biggest challenges.
Thank you for being part of this journey. Whether you found me as Val Halloway or are meeting me for the first time as Donna Hemingway, I'm grateful you're here.
The Story Behind Nothing But the Good Things
As I planned the Caregiver Tea Time podcast, I knew it needed a theme song, and I wanted it to leave people with a smile.
Years earlier, I had dreamed of writing a song that people would sing along with as they drove down the highway. When the time finally came, I found a wonderful music teacher, Joe Marrero, who taught me how to write lyrics using clear, vivid images.
I wanted the song to capture how I felt whenever I shared my caregiving story. Conversations about caregiving often become understandably somber because of the difficult experiences involved. But almost every time, I'd find myself smiling and saying, "But there were so many good things too!"
So I began making a list of those good things—the moments of love, laughter, gratitude, and unexpected joy that existed alongside the hardships.
As I shared my ideas, Joe picked up his ukulele, strummed a few chords, and together we discovered the beginning of what became Nothing But the Good Things.
That song reminds me that even in life's most difficult seasons, there are still beautiful moments worth noticing, remembering, and celebrating.