Occupation: I was formerly an HR Manager. Today, and for the past 19 years, I am the primary caregiver/guardian for my disabled and medically fragile son who lives at home with us in Sandy Hook.

Family: My husband John and I have been married for 29 years. We have three children, all raised in Sandy Hook. Our daughter, Sarah Rose, age 26, now lives in Orange, California. She is a graduate of Newtown High School, Wagner College, and Chapman University Fowler School of Law. She graduated and passed the CA bar in 2021. We have a son, Daniel John, age 24, who lives with us under our care and guardianship. Daniel was born with a rare condition called Polymicrogyria. Daniel has extensive disabilities and health problems. His needs are vast. We also have a second son, Thomas Hasselberger, age 21, who is also a NHS graduate. Thomas is a musician/instrumentalist at Berklee College of Music in Boston pursuing a double major in performance and music education.

Pets: We have two Coton De Tulear breed dogs, Henry and Holly, and one cat, Theo.

How long have you lived in Newtown? We have lived in Newtown for 28 years. We moved and bought our first house here in 1994 and began building our family.

What do you like to do in your free time? When I have any free time, I am editing video, writing, recording, walking outside, swimming or taking an aquasize class at the Community Center, meditating, painting with Daniel, or some kind of self care. I also have a support group for families with children who have this rare diagnosis, and I support that group.

What is your favorite travel destination? Most people have no idea how incredibly difficult it is to travel with a severely disabled adult son who is wheelchair bound. We have been lucky enough to bring him to Naples, Florida, over the years. I love it there. Southwest Florida is very accessible for me and Daniel. I would love to travel to so many places, maybe even take a vacation with just my husband, but that is not possible at this time.

What is the best part about Newtown? The Dog Park, the variety of places to walk, small town friendliness, and quiet living. I’m pretty fond of the drive-thru Starbucks, not gonna lie.

What organizations are you part of in Newtown? Daniel and I are part of the Families United in Newtown (FUN). Someday I would like to start a support group for people who are caregivers like myself. It is very isolating now that Daniel is an adult and out of the school system.

Who or what has been the greatest influence in your life? My son Daniel. When I was faced with the extreme adversity of caring for a child with a rare condition and leaving my career and goals behind, I lost myself completely for years. This situation and the love for this child, has fueled my resilience to adapt and grow and look inward. Not one thing, but decades of getting through challenges, and overcoming fear and obstacles. I am grateful and learn new things about myself through my experiences as a caregiver.

If you could spend the day with one person, who would you choose and why? This is a hard one. I think right now, my daughter Sarah. She is so much fun, and we laugh until we cry, and she lives on the west coast, so I miss her so much.

Who is your favorite musical artist? Easy. Thomas Hasselberger. My amazing, brilliant, and talented son. Hearing him play jazz on any of his saxophones is so great.

What is the greatest piece of advice you have ever been given? Practice gratitude and be kind. That living life from the wisdom of the heart will bring us into alignment with our soul’s true purpose.

What is your proudest accomplishment? My proudest accomplishment would have to be taking care of my family despite extremely difficult circumstances, and seeing Sarah and Thomas so successful in life after growing up with such a difficult situation always present. Also, how much we all love and support each other. My family is everything; they are my heart, and I love them all so much. I am also proud of my creative endeavors via my YouTube vlog channel “Julie Hasselberger,” my new podcast “The Adapted Life” (only 10 episodes in), and “Daniel’s Special Art Shop” on Etsy, a collaborative effort of mother/son adapted art for sale.

Honestly, looking back, my proudest accomplishment is that I am here and we are all happy and healthy. I’m learning how to use the challenge of 24/7 caregiving for a bridge to developing a deeper connection with myself, and also trying to take all of that and find a way to earn some income to take care of Daniel’s needs.