My first up close experience with death was with my Mother-In-Law, Judy, when she was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumor at age 64. I found myself moving toward the situation naturally and was fortunate enough to spend a lot of time with her in the last months of her life. It was loving, tearful, and difficult, yet I found an unexpected beauty and sacredness in this time.

 

I found her hospice care to be a true gift. Their insight, guidance, and peaceful presence among the complexities of the situation were invaluable. Due to the hospice support and education we received, I found myself more curious about the dying process than fearful, which allowed me to be truly present with Judy.

 

After that experience, I knew I wanted to be a part of helping others have the best experience possible through such a destabilizing time in life. After many years as a hospice patient/vigil volunteer, I decided I wanted to do more. I saw the impact that hospice support could have in the lives of families going through the late stages of a life-limiting illness. I also saw the time restrictions of hospice care and the growing need for patients and families to feel fully supported and informed in the end stages of life. I decided to fill this gap for others as a Certified End of Life Doula.

 

My hope is to normalize death and conversations around death, and to remove some of the unknowns that often keep people fearful about death rather than curious about it. It is something we will all do one day and it truly can be a beautiful experience.