Embracing my grief after my father died in 2018, books on the subject of dying brought me comfort. Caring for the Dying by Henry Fersko-Weiss spoke to my personal caregiving experience with my father and led me to discover INELDA. I felt a kindred spirit in the organization, attending webinars and workshops, meeting others who also felt this unique and sacred calling to support people at end of life.

When my mother chose to use MAiD in 2021, I was her advocate and bedside caregiver. Through my—and from my—fear and anxiety from the acute lack of support, communication, and education from my mother’s medical team and strict red tape from her hospice, I vowed to not let others go through the same. It was in my moment of greatest need that an end-of-life doula, Thalia DeWolf, came to our side and transformed our MAiD and dying experience into a profoundly confident and serene one. This prompted me to follow my curiosity to serve in the role of doula and train with INELDA.

Feeling isolated after training sparked my desire to connect and build community with others in the end-of-life space. Volunteering with Hospice Maui is allowing me to serve my local community, gain experience and connect with doulas, social workers, nurses, and others in the field. Working in the role of Membership Coordinator at INELDA gifts me the opportunity to foster a global community of doulas while supporting the mission of accessible, equitable, and compassionate deathcare.