Honour End of Life Care

K E E P S A K E S: I was rummaging through my desk drawer a moment ago and paused for a moment when I came across this little bottle of Sally Hansen sparkly purple nail polish. I popped it in this drawer years ago as a funny reminder of my mom. 13 years ago when she was dying of cancer in the hospital, she asked me to paint her toes with it. I thought it was such a refreshing request as she was terribly practical and a pedicure was a rarity for her, especially a sparkly purpl...e pedicure! I kept that bottle as a reminder of that moment and of how even people you know and love so well can still surprise and delight you at end of life. The polish is totally unusable now as it’s over 13 years old, but it makes me smile even now Bedside pedicures are also one of my go-to suggestions for a little tbc and pampering at end of life Do you have any little keepsakes stored around your home? #endoflife #endoflifedoula #endoflifecare #deathdoula #deathpositivemovement #deathpositive #memories #treasures

New interview series from my friend Barbara Morningstar! It's amazing how life attracts people together. My mom was a hospice volutneer at Surrey Hospice and was trained my Barbara. As the universe has it, I bumped into Barbara years later through my work with the End of Life Doula Association and we have started the beginnings of a good friendship

It’s starting to feel like Christmas around here

I wholeheartedly agree that discussions on dying and grief should be on school curriculum... and should be discussed at home. Learning how to support others and hearing their stories helps us all connect, relate, and build supportive communities.

I am in need of a little holiday spirit right now so I popped Michael Buble Christmas on Spotify (perhaps the best Christmas album Of All Time but maybe I’m biased as I went to the same elementary school as Michael?!?). I digress...Following his set , Spotify served me up Here for Christmas from Lukas Graham. What a beautiful reflective song that speaks to what it’s like to experience the holidays when you’ve lost someone. If you haven’t heard it yet, please give it a listen and let me know what you think. #christmas2020 #christmas #grief #griefandloss #griefawareness #griefjourney #griefsupport #griefsucks #endoflifedoula #deathdoula

If your heart is heavy this Christmas, please consider taking time out to recognize and sit with that grief, and honour it through an event like this

A little local Christmas cheer for you

In the early months of the pandemic, I found myself struggling to both work and home school my two elementary-aged daughters. The task of home schooling fell to me as my work is more flexible than my husband’s, meaning that I got the benefit of making up my work time in the evenings. My husband did his best to help support me but knew that I was shouldering most of the work. It was a long three months until summer break and I needed the summer to heal. All that said, I am ...grateful that I have been able to keep working throughout the pandemic, as I have many friends whose families have been impacted by employment and income instability. In many conversations with friends over the past eight months, the common theme is that a lot of the challenge and burden of the pandemic has fallen to women. I write this post in acknowledgment that we need to #unmaskgenderinequity. If you like, I encourage you to post a pic of yourself in a mask and share your story, tagging #weseeyou #@bcwomens See more

I finished Paul Kalanithi’s When Breath Becomes Air moments ago. I *may* have bawled from the story of his daughter’s birth through to completion of Lucy’s epilogue. There are simply too many profound lines of the book to quote. It was quite simply beautiful, smart, thoughtful and so very interesting. I’m looking forward to diving deep into a discussion on When Breath Becomes Air at the End of Life Doula Association’s book club session on Nov 10 #endoflifedoula #deathdoula #bookclub #bookclubsofinstagram #instareads #goodreads #paulkalanithi #whenbreathbecomesair

As LGBTQ2 people, we’re often trying to figure out how to fit our identities, relationships and family structures into systems, laws and policies which are not designed for us. Great article on the importance of advance care planning for the LGBTQ+ community

Interested in exploring death and grief more fully? Barbara Morningstar is facilitating a workshop series starting in January 2021

S E L F C A R E: I was feeling the need for a bit of self care this weekend, so I channeled my inner 25 year old and lit some pretty candles in the bathroom. Instant bliss! This might need to be a new Sunday evening ritual to start the week in a peaceful place Any suggestions on self care practices that bring you happiness and balance? #selfcare #endoflifedoula #deathdoula #ritual #rituals #bathtime

Such a beautiful way to remember and celebrate those we have lost, in a new online format this year

So well said: When supporting a grieving person, it’s never advisable to try and point out a silver lining. Nor should you ever explain to a grieving person why they should feel any less devastated than they do. Someone they love just died, and they are entitled to all their pain.

Happy National Hospice Palliative Care Day for Children! Great hospice palliative care starts with accurate health information - visit @CanadianHospicePalliativeCare to lean more! Let’s continue #BustingtheMyths about pediatric hospice palliative care. #hpcForChildren

There are many choices to make when pre-planning your burial. For me, when asked if I would consider a cardboard casket, the answer is a whole-hearted YES! They are far kinder to our planet than traditional steel caskets and are far less expensive. Plus my loved ones can decorate it or write messages on it for a personal touch.

I couldn’t think of two better people to offer guidance on honouring grief than Tracy Chalmers from @endwell_northshore and Megan Sheldon from @beceremonial . I am RSVPing today! If you would like to attend too please contact [email protected] to register. This event is part of Community Deathcare Canada’s Swan Song Festival. #grief #griefsupport #griefandloss #grievingprocess #griefhealing #griefsucks #griefawareness #griefprocess #endoflifedoula #deathdoula

This North Shore family shares their experience with MAiD

Looking for ways to support your local hospice? Burnaby Hospice Society is holding a raffle!

New times call for new ways of celebrating and fundraising. Crossroads Hospice is near and dear to my heart

A life, if lived well, is long enough. What a beautiful article written by an amazing human being

It's not often that an EOL Doula gets to post about a *Sale Alert!!*, but here it is!

Volunteers Needed We’re in need of some specific volunteers willing to do some ongoing gardening and maintenance at the garden at St. Michael’s. We’re loo...king for, at a minimum, once a month ongoing 2-4 hours a shift. Times are flexible. Duties will include: Assist with weeding, trimming, planting, and/or watering of plants and flowers Assist with general maintenance of the Garden If interested, contact us at: [email protected] or message us.

Wow huge announcement on lung cancer screenings from BC Cancer Foundation

Parents, do you have questions about how to talk about death with your kids? Check this webinar out!

The setting sun on summer break. The sunrise that comes on the other side signals the first taste of normal routine in our household in six months. The kids are heading back to school shortly which means that I will be back to my normal routine more or less. It’s been challenging to be working and home schooling through to June and then working and keeping the kids occupied over the summer. I may have gotten some ‘hate mail’ from my 8 year old saying I work too much (which I...’m totally saving in her Adia box) but we have made it through. I’m grateful to have been able to keep working and to have my kids safe at home. I don’t know how long they will be back in the classroom knowing cold and flu season is approaching, but I’m going to sit with the uncertainty and stay flexible and open to change. As I like to envision it, I am like a ball floating on the ocean. Bouncing with the waves and current but keeping afloat!! #endoflifedoula #deathdoula #endoflifecare #endoflifeplanning #deathmatters

Who is excited to host the next End of Life Doula Association book club? This girl!! I remember reading an excerpt from Paul Kalanithi’s When Breath Becomes Air that was published in Chatelaine years ago. I read the article while I was sitting in my car passing the time while my daughter was in a class. And I was bawling! As a young parent I was so moved by Paul’s story as he was a new father who was dying. It struck such a chord with me that day so I was quick to suggest it ...for the book club. I am honoured to get to lead a discussion on this profound book on Tuesday November 10th at 6pm PST. The EOLDAC book club events are open to the public so if you would like to attend, then please sign up for their newsletter using the link in my bio (that’s how the zoom login deets are communicated). #goodreads #instareads #endoflife #endoflifedoula #deathdoula #endoflifedoulaassociation #bookstagram #bookclub #whenbreathbecomesair #paulkalanithi

Holding those lost in my heart

Looking for bereavement support for you or someone you care about? Amelie and Brittany from Crossroads Hospice's bereavement team are here to help.

Hello! I’m sorry for being a little quiet on the social front lately. Life has been pretty hectic with the kids home for the summer and with wearing a few different work hats! Some of you might know that I also work as the administrator for the End of Life Doula Association of Canada. It’s been such a great way for me to get to know the wonderful board members like @endwell_northshore and @livepurposefullywithsarah and it’s allowed me to connect with many doulas across the ...country. My husband snapped this shot of me hosting our monthly zoom meeting tonight with the lovely Christina Andreola from @newnarrativememorials. It made me laugh as I look pretty funny attempting to look professional while sitting next to the tarps that we set out to dry from the camping trip we wrapped up this morning! I’m so grateful for being able to work with these kind people and to collaborate with our awesome death caring community in Canada! photo credit: my handsome husband Ryan @endoflifedoulaassociation #deathdoula #endoflifedoula #deathpositivemovement #deathpositive #endoflifecare #covidlife @ Vancouver, British Columbia

Looking for ways to support the men in your life who are grieving? Join Barbara Morningstar for this insightful session on Men and Grief.

Logical perfection!