There are people in our lives who become lighthouses, steady, unmovable, shining for us even when we are convinced we should be able to walk the shoreline alone. They show up despite whatever storms they are weathering themselves. They see us clearly, past all the ways we try to appear strong, and they accept us without a second thought. For many of us, these are the people we reach for only when we have run out of ways to pretend we don’t need anyone. Something in us knows t

Acceptance means many things to many people. As I grow older, I find myself understanding it in deeper and more layered ways than I ever have before. Acceptance is about making peace, with an ending, a change, a loss, or a reality we never asked for. It can mean coming to terms with the end of a relationship, a shift in our home or work, or even life-altering news that changes everything. We are constantly invited, sometimes unwillingly, to find acceptance in what is handed t

When I was going through treatment many years ago, my mouth was so dry my tongue felt like sandpaper. Food became an uninvited guest, unpleasant and unwelcome, and nausea seemed to linger like a dark shadow. This was before I became a nurse, and during that time, I stumbled upon something surprisingly healing: watermelon. Not cantaloupe, not honeydew, just watermelon. Somehow, it brought my tongue back to life. It gave me moisture and hydration, eased my nausea, and for a mo

Let’s talk about the C-word. No, not that one, I am talking about  constipation . (If you are already blushing, don’t worry, you are not alone.) As a nurse, I have asked more people about their bowel movements than I can possibly count. It’s part of the job. We want to know the  when, what, how , and sometimes even the  why . “When was your last bowel movement?” might just be one of the most common questions in healthcare, and believe me, we are not just being nosy. Your gut

The Day Everything Changed One day, I woke up feeling completely fine. B y mid-afternoon, everything changed. Out of nowhere, I was hit with uncontrollable nausea, weakness, and pain so intense that my body began to shake. I told myself I could ride it out, something so many of us in healthcare tend to do. We are used to being the caregiver, not the one being cared for. But that instinct to “push through it” nearly cost me my life. Within hours, I was trembling with fever, b

Gratitude means many things to many people. It’s a word we often say as though we all understand it in the same way, yet what resonates deeply with one person may not with another. For me, as someone who has spent nearly fifteen years working in end-of-life care, who has witnessed over two thousand last breaths, gratitude has become something sacred and layered. It has been shaped by sitting beside those who are dying, by holding space for families preparing to say goodbye, a

Some stories stay with you forever. This one will stay with me for the rest of my life. About two months ago, I met Thomas and Cecelia a couple married for 63 years, together for 65. They had lived a beautiful, full life, side by side, and, as fate would have it, they were also diagnosed with terminal illnesses within weeks of each other. At first, Thomas cared for Cecelia. She was more symptomatic, and he did everything he could to ease her pain. Then, when her treatments sh

Empathy is more than understanding what someone is going through, it is feeling with  them. It is the ability to see the world through their eyes, to step into their story without judgment, and to hold space for their emotions even when we don’t fully understand them. I have learned that empathy isn’t about offering solutions or comparing experiences. It’s not about saying “I know how you feel,” but about saying, “I am here with you.” When we walk beside someone who is declin

When I sit at the bedside of someone who is about to die, I often become the receiver of their life story, a quiet witness to their reflections, memories, and truths. Most of the time, I hear about love, family, friendships, and laughter, the moments that made life rich and meaningful. But often, woven between those memories, are whispers of regret. Not the kind about missed vacations or unfulfilled dreams, but the deeper kind, wishing they had spent more time  with the peopl

Before we can truly show respect to others, we first have to understand what it means. Respect is more than politeness or manners, it is a deep sense of care, consideration, and reverence for another person’s existence. It is seeing someone’s worth, even when we don’t fully understand their story. Respect means admiring others not just for what they do, but for who they are. It is listening with intention, honoring differences, and holding space for the feelings, boundaries,

Life is a gift a tender breath wrapped in light something we sometimes forget to marvel at until it slips away. We rush through moments thinking there will always be more until time reminds us that nothing is promised and everything is precious. Life is meant to be held close to be savored, cherished and enjoyed. If we learned that sooner maybe our hearts would rest easier in the end. Life is the sound of laughter spilling through open doors but it can also be silence Life is

In the past week alone, I have heard from three different families who are struggling with their hospice experience. They were promised 24/7 availability, but what they have encountered instead is delayed responses, last-minute cancellations, and inconsistent communication. Some families are feeling unheard and unsupported, and sadly, I have felt this too. Hospice should be providing heart-centered, compassionate care at one of the most sacred times in life, and yet sometimes

Death looks different to each of us. We all experience it in our own way, whether we are facing it personally, witnessing it unfold in...

I recently did a little experiment after waking up thinking about the people I miss, wishing desperately we could have one more...

Listening is a gift we often take for granted, not just the ability to hear words, but the act of truly letting someone feel heard. So...

Someone recently referred to me as  a Death Escort , and I will admit, I nearly spit out my coffee laughing. The title caught me off...

Kindness seems like such a simple thing, yet it is often overlooked in a world where judgment and division come so easily. We live in a...

We all walk a path that begins the day we are born, unique in its turns, unexpected in its terrain. For some the trail looks bright and...

When I picture your face, I see your smile it was what you greeted me with every time I had the honor of spending time with you   Saying...

A poem and a ritual for grievers. From my heart to yours. .. In my work as an end-of-life doula, a hospice and palliative care nurse,...