NICE TO MEET YOU!

MY END-OF-LIFE DOULA EXPERIENCE BEGAN MANY YEARS AGO, UNBEKNOWNST TO ME, WHEN MY NANA BETTY WAS DIAGNOSED WITH VASCULAR DEMENTIA. THIS NEARLY 8 YEAR JOURNEY LAID THE FOUNDATION FOR A DESIRE TO CARE FOR AND SERVE;  WHICH CRACKED MY DOULA HEART WIDE OPEN.

I AM A VOLUNTEER WITH A WONDERFUL LOCAL HOSPICE AND HAVE VOLUNTEERED AND WORKED WITH NOT-FOR-PROFIT COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS WHO SUPPORT THOSE IN CRISIS, HOMELESSNESS AND TERMINAL ILLNESS; AND WORK IN HOSPITAL ON AN INTENSIVE PALLIATIVE CARE UNIT AS WELL AS A VERY BUSY AND CHALLENGING ACUTE CARE MEDICAL UNIT.

I AM HONOURED AND DEEPLY TOUCHED BY MY EXPERIENCES WITH THE DYING AND THEIR FAMILIES. MY UNWAVERING BELIEF IS TO ALLOW AND HOLD SPACE FOR THOSE FACING DEATH WITH NEVER ENDING COMPASSION, SUPPORT, PRESENCE, NON-JUDGMENT, TENDERNESS AND AN UNDERSTANDING THAT EACH LIFE IS JUST AS MEANINGFUL AND PRECIOUS WHEN IT ENDS, AS IT WAS THE VERY MOMENT IT WAS BORN.

WORDS ARE OFTEN NOT ENOUGH AND ACTIONS DO SOMETIMES SPEAK LOUDER; PLACING MY HAND OVER MY OWN HEART IS MY WAY OF REASSURING YOU THAT I AM RIGHT HERE, I FEEL YOU AND YOU ARE NEVER ALONE.