Meet our 2025 Carewell Caregiver Award Winners

We’re so honored to introduce you to our 2025 Carewell Caregiver Award Winners! Each winner is an example of why caregivers deserve to be recognized for all of their hard work. Take a moment to learn about their stories and celebrate all that they’ve done for the loved ones in their lives.

Caregiver of the Year Winner: Tanya Phillips

When it comes to caregiving, most people might not think of themselves as a hero. For a dedicated mom like Tanya Phillips, she reserves that word for her son, Tristan. Yet, her story shows just how much strength, love, and heroism she puts into caregiving every single day.

Her son, Tristan, is a true inspiration. Born with spina bifida, he’s been paralyzed from birth. Over the years, he’s faced more than 60 hospitalizations, surgeries, diagnoses, and procedures. Tanya is right there alongside him, offering unwavering support as she balances life as a single working mother.

Read more of Tanya’s story

Family Caregiver Winner: Natasha Shubrick

Natasha’s mother was diagnosed with Vascular Dementia due to Alzheimer’s several years ago. Since the diagnosis, Natasha has stepped into a full time caregiving role to support her mother’s daily needs, and as a result, every aspect of her life has transformed. The transition required Natasha to permanently relocate from Chicago to South Carolina, leaving behind her life and community, along with her career and a promise of stable income.

Now, as her mother’s full-time caregiver, she manages every detail of her mother’s daily life, including meal preparation, medication administration, medical appointments, and household chores. 

Read more of Natasha’s story

Veteran Caregiver Winner: Leslie Centeno

Leslie Centeno has been caring for her disabled veteran father, who struggles with PTSD, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, depression, and various physical health issues, ever since her mother passed away over a decade ago.

Her father depends on Leslie for every aspect of his life. He’s unable to walk, confined to the house, and trusts only her.

She shares: “I’ve had to put my life on hold for the past 13 years to care for him. “My priority has always been my father. I always said my life can begin when his life ends, and I continue to live by that commitment.”

Read more of Leslie’s story

Parent Caregiver Winner: Gail Duell

Gail’s son Jeremiah is 24 years old and lives with diplegia cerebral palsy. He is wheelchair bound, incontinent, and unable to walk, stand, bathe, dress himself, make decisions or care for himself in any capacity, thus requiring her care nearly every hour of the day. Her day with Jeremiah begins at 7, and often doesn’t end until midnight. 

Gail shares that her responsibilities for Jeremiah include everything that she would do for herself in a normal day: bathing, dressing, grooming, cooking meals and taking him to his numerous doctors and therapy appointments. Household and caregiving tasks also include laundry, grocery shopping, managing finances and social outings. 

Read more of Gail’s story

Companion Caregiver Winner: Lori Millbauer

Last January, at 68 years of age, Lori’s ex-husband Mark received an ALS diagnosis. Before his diagnosis and quick onset of symptoms, Mark was a very healthy and active man, working in the auto repair industry, sailing on the Puget Sound and skiing on nearby mountains.

In just one year, ALS has taken away his ability to talk, walk, and do most anything. His hands are barely working, which is hard for him because working with his hands is what he has always loved to do. 

Lori and Mark were married for 35 years and have been divorced for the past 10 years. During their time together they raised four children who are now well into adulthood. Lori kindly and graciously agreed to be his primary caregiver and support him, moving out of her home and into a home that is accessible for Mark’s wheelchair and other needs. 

Read more of Lori’s story

Congratulations to all of our 2025 winners!