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 someone we love, or simply bearing witness as a professional death worker. Watching decline is one of the hardest things we do as humans. It quietly reminds us of our own mortality. We know where it is leading. We prepare ourselves the best that we can, but when it finally happens, there is still that moment of shock, a deep, indescribable sti

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 often, when we are in conversation, our minds wander to our response, we nod absentmindedly, or our own emotions are triggered and take us elsewhere. In those moments, we risk dismissing what the other person is trying to share, leaving them feeling unseen or unheard. Listening isn’t about preparing an answer or comparing experiences, it is ab

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 time when our differences are magnified, when opinions clash louder than conversations, and when disconnect feels stronger than connection. But what if we shifted our perspective? What if instead of pulling back or shutting down when someone thinks differently than we do, we chose to lean in with curiosity? Not to agree, not to adopt their be

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,...

I first met him when I began visiting his wife as her hospice nurse. From the very beginning, it was clear: this was a man who loved...

Forgiveness is not about excusing, forgetting, or pretending that something never happened. It’s about choosing to set yourself free. The...

Lately I have realized how often I duck away from compliments or downplay applause, as though I don’t deserve them. It is almost...

When you sit with someone as they take their last breath, you are doing something extraordinary, even if it doesn’t feel like it in the...

To the person preparing to take their last breath… I want you to know that you are not invisible here. Even as your body grows tired,...

One of the hardest lessons in palliative care and hospice is learning that our role is not always to do , but often to be . Families will come to us in moments of deep fear, uncertainty, and heartbreak, and the instinct to “fix” things is strong, after all, most of us entered this field because we wanted to help, to ease pain, to solve problems. But there are times in this work when there is nothing to fix, and trying to do so can leave families feeling unseen in their grie

Three people in my life died before I had the chance to say goodbye. No matter how hard I try, I can’t shake this feeling… sometimes it...

Life is such a remarkable gift. It doesn’t come wrapped in perfection, but in layers; moments of joy, sorrow, challenges, and unexpected...

Compassion is at the heart of everything we do, whether in healthcare, palliative care, or hospice. We bring our whole selves, our...

When I became a nurse, I took an oath to protect, care for, and honor every person who came under my care. That oath was not conditional,...

Over the years, I have been asked by families to “please don’t tell them they are dying.” I have sat at bedsides where family members...

If I had another chance to talk to you even just a few more minutes I wouldn’t waste a single breath I would ask you how you are what...