Many of you are aware that we moved (back) to Colorado last month. Although Minnesota is where we grew up and where most of our family resides, the mountains continued to whisper in our ear since we left in 2014. What does this mean for Adeste and my work as an end of life doulaContinue reading “A Colorado Chapter Begins….”
Tag Archives: death doula
The Vigil – A Tender Time
As an end-of-life doula and hospice volunteer, I am honored to ‘sit vigil’ with someone as they are actively dying. Healthcare providers may call this ‘transitioning’. This is the tender time as death draws near, and your loved one continues their journey away from their earthly body. What should you do? What can you expect?Continue reading “The Vigil – A Tender Time”
A Toast to Women Physicians
National Women Physician Day is celebrated on February 3 every year (since 2017) – to honor the birthday of Elizabeth Blackwell, the first woman to receive a medical degree in the United States. Women who choose to become a physician today can give a nod to Elizabeth as she forged a path for them inContinue reading “A Toast to Women Physicians”
Hello, Doula! Are you there?
When is it time to consider adding a doula to your team? Is time limited due to a terminal diagnosis? Are you tending to a loved one and don’t know how to be helpful? Did you hear the word ‘hospice’ and can’t wrap your head around the idea? Are you grieving the loss of aContinue reading “Hello, Doula! Are you there?”
Every Story is Different
I recently spoke with Sarah, the Social Work Supervisor with Grace Hospice, to get her take on the role of a social worker at the end of life. As a doula and hospice volunteer, her comment “Every story is different” resonated with me. Every patient. Every family. Every journey. Every story. As a hospice volunteer,Continue reading “Every Story is Different”
What to Do When You Don’t Know What to Do
The current, and not-so-short-lived Covid-19 virus has created new challenges for us when we want to be at the bedside of our dying loved one. Maybe our visits are restricted due to the pandemic, work schedules, or geography. How do we connect with our loved one when we can’t be at the bedside? How doContinue reading “What to Do When You Don’t Know What to Do”
A Simple Chair Ritual for Comfort
Years ago, I was geographically far from a loved one when they were gravely ill. Feeling lonely and helpless can be overwhelming. If we can take a moment to catch our breath, those feelings will slowly get smaller and we can give ourselves the space to honor our loved one. The following chair ritual wasContinue reading “A Simple Chair Ritual for Comfort”
Get to Know Me
Choosing an end of life doula can be overwhelming. You have heard of a birth doula, but a death doula? Why do you need a death doula? Why would someone want to do this work? I have worked in the healthcare industry for most of my life. A love for aging and dying people startedContinue reading “Get to Know Me”
It’s Just Stuff…or is it?
As a member of MNDC (Minnesota Death Collaborative, a group of end of life professionals), I had the opportunity to hear a professional organizer, Su-Yoon Ko recently. Su-Yoon discussed the clutter in our own lives, lives of those facing death, and our loved ones who died leaving behind their legacy of ‘stuff’. For some, clutterContinue reading “It’s Just Stuff…or is it?”