Through it All
At age 79, Janet Duch has been a caretaker for 52 years. Her youngest son, Chad Duch, has Down syndrome. When Chad was younger, he attended school and graduated from high school. For almost 19 years, he worked at Valley Packaging, a nonprofit where people with disabilities can learn and practice life skills. He didn’t do well with work, so he stayed in an area called “day service” which was a more protective area.
As Janet’s two older children grew up, they had kids of their own, and her caretaking often coincided with watching her grandkids. Even as her grandkids grew into young teens, Janet continued to take care of Chad until moving him to a group home in 2013.
“Because I have leukemia and was 67 at the time, I needed a place for him to live and hopefully be happy. I picked Chad up every weekend from Friday afternoon until Monday afternoon. So he was always with us on weekends except for two vacations,” Janet said.
Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, she and Chad couldn’t see each other in-person because they were both part of vulnerable populations. “I went to see him through the window every week, that was not a good time,” Janet said. Janet’s mother was also receiving care in a nursing home at the time and passed away from the virus.
Chad continued to live in the group home until July 2021, when Janet heard he was not doing well. After bringing him home to figure out what was wrong, she and Chad’s doctor discovered Chad had a fractured hip. He underwent surgery and lived in a nursing home where he went to rehab.
After he completed rehab, Janet moved Chad back home, believing someone at the group home had caused the break. Since then, Janet has continued her role as his mother and caretaker, while also being a grandmother and a wife.
Pictures of Chad are displayed among other family photos throughout Janet's house in New London, Wis., on Friday, Nov. 28, 2025.
A photo of Chad hangs on the fridge. The sign he holds reads “After quarantine I am looking forward to seeing Mom! I wanted you to know I miss you, and I’m doing okay!” The photo was taken during the Covid-19 pandemic, while Chad was living in a group home. After hearing Chad had been struggling there, Janet discovered he had a fractured hip. Soon after the discovery, she moved Chad back to her house, believing someone at the group home had caused the break.
On their way to run errands, Janet helps Chad down the walkway of their house, toward the garage.
Janet and Chad shop for items at Walgreens.
Janet and Chad make their way back home after running errands.
Janet makes up a plate for Chad during the Thanksgiving meal.
As the rest of the family sits down to eat their Thanksgiving dinner, Janet goes back to get a plate for herself. Each meal, she plates a meal for Chad before feeding herself.
Janet puts her arm around Chad as they sit to watch the rest of the family play a card game.
Chad grabs Janet’s hand to squeeze it, a gesture he does frequently with a smile on his face.
After a day of Thanksgiving festivities, Janet puts prescription eyedrops in Chad’s eyes. The eye drops need to be administered for three weeks, since Chad had surgery for glaucoma, which Janet also has. “He’s so good at taking the drops. He will have to continue the evening drops. I just hope it’s all helping,” Janet said.
While Janet tries to get Chad up to brush his teeth and get ready for bed, he squeezes her hands with his. Janet also brought the clothes on the table in front of them for Chad to change into.
After Chad spends a minute brushing his teeth, Janet helps make sure he brushed them thoroughly.
Janet places her hand on Chad’s as they watch television.
Chad smiles at Janet as he squeezes his mother’s hand.
Janet sits on Chad’s bed and asks him to say the names of each family member. They do the routine every night so Chad can practice speaking and remembering names.