In response to the Opinion titled “‘Silver tsunami’ calls for after-death options”: Thank you, Linda Gould, and many blessings to you in the work that you do. I am a practicing death doula in the Lewes-Rehoboth Beach area.
I couldn’t agree more, especially while serving an area that is full of retirees! I am so pleased, in general, that the discussion is evolving. Back in the day, when I entered into the healthcare profession as a young nurse, the only thing that seemed to be addressed was the difficult question of whether my patient was a full-code (resuscitation) or a no-code.
We have certainly come a long way, with much more to come in this rapidly evolving area of end-of-life care.
We are much more of a nomad society today, with families scattered at great geographical distances. I am essentially a doula to walk with folks who find themselves alone and at a loss as to how to handle the complexities and choices related to the end of life.
I was called to this work after experiencing devastating and lasting trauma from my mother dying a tragic death from metastatic breast cancer when I was 15. My mission is to prevent another unsupported family tragedy. Oh, my, how we could have used a doula!
Thank you for your very relevant and increasingly important discussion on the end of life. It is just in time! Blessings and healing to you.
Michele Stutzman
Liminal Shores End of Life Collective
Lewes
Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at civiltalk@iniusa.org.
