Who cares for the carer?
Karlee Hayes is nineteen when her boyfriend's organs fail-and overnight, she becomes his full-time carer. No training. No warning. Just dialysis, hospitals, and the silent expectation of hospital staff that she'll hold it all together. As the relationship unravels, Karlee doesn't leave the caring behind-instead, she steps deeper into the world of professional disability support, while quietly unravelling herself.
Told with gritty honesty, cheeky humour, and the straight-talking voice of a Regional Victorian country girl who's seen too much too young, The Art of Giving pulls back the curtain on the personal journey of a carer - the often invisible lifeblood of the healthcare system. This isn't just a story about disability or devotion. It's about what happens when giving becomes a survival strategy and the not-so-silent cost when we give too much for too long.
Bold, funny and deeply human, this is a book every overgiver needs to read. It might just change how you care for the most important person in the world: yourself.
about the author
Warm, creative, and deeply reflective, Karlee Hayes brings heart and honesty to everything she does. Based in the Manning Valley, New South Wales, she works remotely from home while raising her daughter and sharing the everyday joys of life as a builder's (almost) wife.
Her memoir, The Art of Giving, draws from her lived experience as a young carer and professional caregiver. With unflinching honesty, she explores the hidden costs of overgiving, the weight of burnout, and the courage it takes to rebuild an
authentic life with balance.
Alongside writing, Karlee celebrates love stories as Your Smiling Celebrant, runs her eco-friendly gifting business Seed A Smile, and supports businesses through her role with a leading online booking platform. She is passionate about connection in all its forms - whether through ceremonies, seeds, or stories - and proves that even from the quiet corners of regional life, voices can carry far.
Readers are encouraged to connect with Karlee on Instagram @karleehayes and explore more of her work at www.karleehayes.com.au
