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Across the United States, 63 million people are caregivers — and too many feel alone. Journalist Kat McGowan knows this firsthand. As a caregiver herself, she understands how hard the subject can be to talk about.

Caregiving is “often associated with aging and death,” McGowan said. “Those topics are really hard to bring up in our culture.”

Play video: Journalist Gives Voice to Caregiver Experience

McGowan received a from º£½ÇÉçÇø, awarded to members of the press in the U.S. and select countries who report on mental health. McGowan is a freelance journalist based in Berkeley, California, who regularly contributes to the NPR Science Desk.

The fellowship provided McGowan time, support, and resources to explore stories about caregiving that embrace the emotional complexity of the issue. Her work captures the bittersweet combination of duty, honor, love, and frustration that makes up the caregiving experience.