<![CDATA[Children with special needs may require placement in care facilities when their parents are unable to provide adequate and continuous care. Consequently, caregivers play an important role in meeting children's needs and providing ongoing support, which may generate both negative and positive psychological experiences. This study aims to explore the lived experiences of caregivers of children with special needs who simultaneously experience compassion fatigue and compassion satisfaction. A qualitative phenomenological approach was employed, involving three caregivers at Orphanage X who cared for children with special needs ranging from early childhood to adolescence. Data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis, generating three main themes: (1) altruism, reflecting the interpretation of caregiving as a calling to serve God rather than merely as a job or source of income; (2) workload and challenges in caregiving, evident in physical and emotional exhaustion resulting from limited rest time as well as the complexity of the needs and behaviors of the children in their care; and (3) internal resources, encompassing spirituality and social support as pillars of resilience, along with the inner satisfaction that grows alongside the children's positive development. These findings indicate the need for institutional attention to balancing job demands with adequate rest time and compensation, strengthening social support systems, and promoting the sustained psychological well-being and resilience of caregivers.]]>
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