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Category: Dying
Through His Eyes
A Reflection on the Anniversary of a Friend’s Repose Honoring the Anniversary of a Holy Death Today marks the anniversary of a dear friend’s death—one that shaped my understanding of compassionate end-of-life care. His final days revealed something sacred about the act of simply being present, offering prayer, and honoring the soul as it approaches the…
End-of-life storytelling
We are all storytellers, in one way or another. Our lives are stories in progress—tangled, evolving, beautiful things. Like any good story, they deserve an ending that speaks truthfully and meaningfully to who we are. I’m here for your end-of-life storytelling. That’s exactly why I became a death doula. There are ways I can help…
Ending the Silence on the Denial of Death and End-of-Life Doulas
How the Denial of Death and End-of-Life Doulas Reflect Our Fear of Mortality In modern Western society, the denial of death and end-of-life doulas rarely enter the same conversation. Death is often pushed to the margins—sterilized, hidden, and whispered about, if acknowledged at all. We live in a culture that reveres youth, productivity, and the illusion of…
Avoiding caregiver burnout
The Silent Struggle of Caregiving A friend recently shared with me the challenges of caring for a parent in decline. She was exhausted. The daily drama, the constant needs of a father in decline. She was close to caregiver burnout. Avoiding caregiver burnout is hard when the spiritual and emotional battles are draining you physically.…
Know the signs death is near
In a recent article for Upworthy palliative care nurse Julie MacFadden explained the symptoms she sees in those who will die a natural death in the next six months. McFadden cares for those who enter hospice care and every patient exhibits the same three symptoms. I’ve written in the past about the signs death may…
The Little Things Count
I was recently reading a very helpful book titled Caring for the Dead: Your Final Act of Love by Lisa Carlson. It was written in 1998 so its a bit dated but most of the information the author shares is still relevant. The bulk of the pages details your rights and options caring for the…
Actively Dying
Caring for a loved one when death seems imminent can be challenging. You’ve been told it could happen at anytime but none can predict the minute or hour or even day. Exhaustion precludes being perpetually vigilant. We all must rest. We all must receive occasional respite or burn out. Thankfully there are signs that can…
