This is the story of Kel from a Carefree break for an Invisible Army exhibition
Discover more about the full exhibition in our Carers Week 2025 round-up.
For Carers Week this year, we launched a photography exhibition that showcased the real stories of unpaid carers and the respite breaks they were able to take thanks to us. The exhibition, in partnership with Invisible Army, was created to capture the everyday challenges and joys of these amazing individuals. Now you can read their stories right here on the Notebook!
Shurron and Kel's Story
“We always felt like we could take on the world together, but things changed after our son was born,” says Shurron. “He was critically ill for the first three months of his life and then received a life-changing diagnosis. We had to navigate his health, the health system and our own trauma, while caring for a newborn.”
Shurron is a British-born Indian. Her husband Kel is Colombian-born, New York-raised. "Our story started on a sleepy beach in Costa Rica," Shurron says, "and somehow led us across continents." They travelled the world together, weathered a five-year long-distance relationship, until Kel made the move to the UK. Shurron and Kel have two children together: their son Koko and his little sister Indie (to protect their children's privacy, we are using their nicknames). Kel also has an older daughter who lives in the USA, and though separated by an ocean, they remain one close-knit family.
"We are a blended family, across four different cultures," explains Shurron. "We're unapologetically enthusiastic about cultural celebrations, honouring both our own roots and others. Cultural traditions carry such richness and are a gift to understanding others too. Plus we love any excuse to party!"
"The trauma we faced created this gulf between us," Kel says. "We were both suffering but couldn't reach each other. There were dark times when we felt utterly alone, despite being together every day." He pauses. "But slowly, we found our way back. The healing isn't finished, but it's happening. We've rediscovered joy and adventure in our own way. And surprisingly, being carers has brought its own kind of joy." Shurron reaches for his hand. "What matters is that through everything, we're a team."
Their teamwork faced its greatest test six months ago. Kel survived a stroke and needed open heart surgery. “I suddenly understood both sides of caring,” Kel reflects. “I needed care myself, but Koko still needed me too.” Thanks to quick action from his colleagues and excellent NHS support, and their teamwork - Kel has recovered brilliantly. And joy remains the centre of family life.
"We've learned that caring and challenging ableism go hand in hand," Shurron explains. "It's not just about supporting Koko's needs - it's about actively confronting the barriers society puts in his way. True care means seeing the world through an anti-ableist lens." Kel nods in agreement.
"It's up to us to create spaces where Koko and all disabled people aren’t just accommodated but truly belong. Where they are valued for exactly who they are."
“Anyone fancy a dance party?” asks Shurron, smiling at her family. Both children jump to their feet, Kel starts the music and they all dance together. "Dance parties are a regular in our family - whether in the house or out in public!" Shurron says with a smile. "Finished" Koko signs.
"Very proud of you," Kel replies.
“Caring has taught us to slow down - to measure success not in productivity, but in presence. Some of the greatest joy has come in the moments we catch together,” says Shurron. She shares one of these moments. Koko was at the park with Kel, and when Shurron arrived with Indie, he saw her and waved. This was the first time he’d waved and connected with her from a distance. Shurron and Kel had looked at each other. They knew this wasn’t just a wave - it was weeks, months and years of practice and patience.
“It was magic,” says Shurron. “Witnessing progress, learning, and connection unfold - right there in front of us - feels like watching something sacred bloom. And to experience it together is the most beautiful thing in the world, the most beautiful shared moment, because only we know what it means.”
"Get in here and get ready to be..." Kel pauses, pulling Indie in close, "...Tickled!" Indie squirms in fits of laughter.
"Wait, wait!” says Shurron, “Everyone that wants to be tickled, sign yes.”
Everyone signs yes and the tickling begins. The home fills with laughter. When anyone says stop, everyone stops. When everyone signs yes, tickling resumes.
"Silly pillows!" Indie demands, lying flat on her parents’ bed. Kel and Shurron join in, laying their heads on their children's tummies. "Why is my pillow making noises?" begins Kel. "Why does my pillow have teeth?" adds Shurron, as the room starts to fill with the children's giggles.
Shurron pretends to check the label in the children's t-shirts. "Oh no! These are silly pillows!" The children roar with laughter as their parents begin tickling them again. "We do this every night before bed," explains Shurron. "And finish. Tickle fingers in pockets!” directs Kel. "Caring is both the hardest thing we've ever done and the most transformative," Shurron says. Kel nods and adds, "it's mainly hard because of the underfunded systems, the barriers to support, and society's failure to value it... which is wild because every one of us exists because someone cared for us so surely it is one of the most valuable types of work?"
"And it's also profoundly beautiful," Shurron continues, "but we rarely hear about that side of things because it's always framed as sacrifice. Our journey as carers has opened up depths of love and resilience we didn’t know were possible. It’s like caring has given us a lens through which we view life, where we see magic in moments we may have otherwise overlooked."
Their understanding deepened during a journey to Colombia, Kel's birthplace, where they met the Wiwa, an indigenous community living in the Sierra Nevada mountains. They have maintained their traditional culture and wisdom for centuries. "Their elders told us that in their society, caregivers are viewed as the heartbeat of their community," Shurron explains. "Those who tend to others aren't pitied - they're revered as wisdom-keepers essential to collective wellbeing. They have remembered what modern society has forgotten: care is the foundation upon which all communities stand." This resonated deeply with Shurron and Kel. "We want to live in a world where care is not invisible, but honoured, resourced, and celebrated," Shurron says. "Because at its heart, care reminds us we're all connected to each other."
Kel and Shurron love to salsa dance: their first dance at their wedding 11 years ago was salsa. They laugh as they share that they practiced very little, but on the day, everything just fell into place. "Kel is such a strong lead, so I move along with him, even though I have no idea what I’m supposed to be doing,” Shurron said.
We were recently able to give the couple a rare night away. "We have dance parties at home with the kids," Shurron shares, "but when it's just the two of us, we reconnect as partners." In a salsa bar near their hotel, they danced together - sometimes stumbling, sometimes flowing, but always surrounded by joy - much like their journey through caregiving.
Catch up with a Carefree break for an Invisible Army exhibition
To read the rest of the stories and discover everything Carefree did during Carers Week 2025, check out our summary below!
(All photo credits: ©Invisible Army)
