— We're not inclined to sit idly as the world suffers (Originally published by MedPage Today on December 3, 2021) A doula is a non-medical care provider who supports people through intense times, such as birth and/or death, complementing any available healthcare services. Humans have assisted other humans through these complex thresholds since, well, always. The… Continue reading Shape-Shifting as an End-of-Life Doula During COVID
It takes courage to lean into topics like death and grief. When a loss includes children, there are even more unknowns. What questions will they ask? Will I be able to answer any of them? How upset will they become? Will talking about it make them more sad? These worries can cause adults to shy… Continue reading Melwin’s Memory Lane
I am a Bernese Mountain Dog named Risotto Portabella Tinydancer, “Riz” for short. I lived with my owners for almost 13 years before my body just stopped working. I went from palliative to hospice care in the spring of 2021. At the beginning of my last 3 months of life I traveled across the country with… Continue reading Riz’s Heart Song
(Keisha's farewell message to the other students in her UVM End-of-Life Doula class. Shared with permission.) My name is LaKeisha Lay, I am 46 years old and in 2016 I was diagnosed with a rare cancer called Mycosis Fungoides aka Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma. Its a blood cancer that affects that skin. In 2017, I was put on… Continue reading My Story, My Journey by Keisha
Children are naturally curious. Sometimes they ask BIG questions. I did. When I was 6 or 7, I asked my grandmother if she was going to die. Just like that. Clear out of the blue. She told me she would (“someday”) and that she was not afraid. She had "lived a good life." This clearly… Continue reading Tips for Talking with Kids about Loss
Contemplative Doula 