By Nathan Gicho
Each month, we share stories from Coloradans who’ve used paid family and medical leave to navigate real life. Nathan Gicho’s story is about caregiving, recovery, and what it means to have a steady safety net when life stacks up.
Last year, my mom called me with news that stopped me in my tracks. She had been diagnosed with advanced kidney failure. Almost overnight, dialysis became part of her daily life. Everything changed quickly, and she needed help adjusting to a routine none of us had planned for.
I didn’t have all the answers, but I knew I wasn’t completely on my own. I remembered seeing posters about FAMLI at work. There was some buzz around the workplace, and we were encouraged to use the benefit if we ever needed it. At the time, I didn’t think much of it — like most people, I assumed I’d probably never need it.
But suddenly, it mattered.
FAMLI allowed me time off work so I could travel home and be with her during that transition. I could help her get to appointments, support her day-to-day needs, and simply be there during a really difficult time.
Being by her side during that time helped her more than I can easily put into words. And it helped me, too. When I left home and returned to Colorado, I was ready because I knew she was going to be OK.
When I got back to work, things felt normal again. I was grateful, focused, and honestly thought that needing leave had probably been a one-time thing. But not long after, my life stacked up again — this time in a different way. I was diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis due to overexertion, and ended up being admitted to the hospital.
Once again, I needed time away from work. And once again, FAMLI was there.
I didn’t miss a paycheck. I didn’t have to worry about my job. I could focus fully on recovering and getting healthy instead of stressing about my income. And now, I’m back at work, happy and healthy and just glad to live in a place like Colorado.
Back-to-back medical issues like that could have easily knocked me off course. Instead, I was taken care of. FAMLI showed up for me when life stacked up, and that made all the difference.
Nathan Gicho, of Aurora, is a Colorado worker who used FAMLI Care Leave to support his mother during a serious illness, then Medical Leave to recover from his own hospitalization.