Get your Grief Guide at www.doulagivers.com/grief

Jennifer O'Brien www.hospicedrswidow.com/about

In this episode of Ask A Doulagiver, I have the pleasure of speaking with Author of The Hospice Doctor’s Widow Jennifer O'Brien.

Jennifer O’Brien has helped thousands live and love more fully by recognizing that: at the end of life comes death; family caregiving is both the hardest job and the greatest honor most of us will ever face; and grief is abundant love with no place to go. She is the author of The Hospice Doctor’s Widow: A Journal, an art journal filled with beauty, practical insights, humor, and heart. The book has won a Nautilus silver award in the Death & Dying/Grief & Loss category, a Next Gen Indie Book gold for Relationships, and an Independent Publishers (IPPY) bronze for Gift.

For more than 30 years she has been a practice management consultant to physicians and served as CEO for two large medical practices. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Boston University and a master’s degree in organization development from Loyola University – Chicago. She lives in Little Rock, Arkansas.

In this episode of "Ask a Death Doula" I will be covering What is a Death Doula and the Top 7 Questions Answered.

 You Will Learn:

1) What is a Death Doula?

2) What do Death Doulas do?

3) What Holistic support do Death Doulas provide?

4) Are there National Initiatives in place for the Death Doula Practice?

5) If I have a Death Doula, do I still need Hospice?

6) What is the projection for the Death Doula Profession in the future?

7) How do I become a Death Doula?

Links Mentioned in This Episode:

1) International Doulagivers Institute

2) NHPCO End of Life Doula Council

3) NEDA

4) Free Level 1 End of Life Doula Training

For more information go to www.doulagivers.com.

Behind the Scenes of the Death Doula Global Summit 💕

Suzanne B. O’Brien here,

As a former Hospice and Oncology nurse, I have been working in the end of life space for a long time. After witnessing so much suffering at the end of life due to the large gaps in care that exist in the mainstream medical system, I created Doulagivers International. The Doulagivers End of Life Doula training was born out of a pure organic need to provide more education and support to both patient and family at the end of life. It has worked beautifully. Helping to support those at the end of life to have a positive passing (we only have one chance to have end of life go well, we cannot go back and do it over) is one of the greatest gifts we can give to one another. We need change and we need it now.

Talking about Death is Talking about Life

If you think that the Death Doula Global Summit is going to be scary and depressing, think again! I have always said that people at the end of life can teach us everything we need to know about living if we would just listen. We are a global family. One of the things that has had the biggest impact on me during my career is how end of life patients would say the same things to me. It did not matter what culture, religion, or socioeconomic status they were from

– many of them would share the same “awareness” with me at the end of their lives.

- Everything was meant for a reason. - We are ALL connected to one universal energy.

- There is no judgment.

These “Universal Laws” and principles have been around for thousands of years. We have all but lost them in our modern society. How profound that these are the words spoken before people leave this world. What would our world be like if we brought these principles back into our everyday lives?

Behind the Scenes of the Death Doula Global Summit

In this episode of “Ask a Death Doula” I take you behind the scenes of the Death Doula Global Summit! This summit has been 8 months in the active working phase, and I am thrilled to say that it is almost here!

All through my years working as a Doulagivers trainer, I have come to know and admire so many wonderful people that work in this space. All around the world, we experience end of life and here is what is so beautiful – we go through and experience many of the same things no matter where we are in the world or what our personal situation is. We are all more similar than we are different, and the end of life shows this truth vividly.

Bringing together the “voices” of 24 speakers from 9 different countries and letting you hear firsthand about their experiences, wisdom, and what is needed for the future is priceless. In this podcast I will take you on a tour of the summit website, show you how to join, and share a bit about each one of the amazing speakers that we are SO incredibly grateful to have be a part of this!

Today More Than Ever

“Let us allow death to be our greatest teacher about life. Let it remind us of just how similar we are, not different. Let death teach us that kindness and presence are the greatest gifts we can give to one another. “– Suzanne B. O’Brien RN

We would love for you to join us for the online Death Doula Global Summit November 16th – 22nd. Tickets are free, click here to join: https://www.doulagiversinstitutefhl.com/death-doula-summit/

In Love & Service,

Suzanne B. O’Brien RN

In this episode of Ask a Death Doula, I will be having a discussion with Dr Karen Wyatt on all the beautiful things we have learned working with those at the end of life. Their wisdom is priceless. We will also share the training we are hosting together. Please click the link below for registration details. xo Suzanne "How to be Resilient in Difficult Times" with Dr Karen Wyatt and Suzanne B. O'Brien RN Dr Karen Wyatt and Suzanne B. O'Brien RN Dr. Karen Wyatt of End of Life University and Suzanne B. O'Brien RN founder of International Doulagivers Institute have joined together to offer their combined years of bedside experiences and wisdom working with those at the end of life in an empowering and progressive new webinar series! Top Lessons Learned from Those at The End of Life: How to be Resilient in Difficult Times will uncover the truth of what lifes' journey is really all about and offer ways that we can access the deeper meaning through experiential exercises.

https://www.doulagiversinstitute.com/courses/top-lessons-learned-from-those-at-the-end-of-life-how-to-be-resilient-in-difficult-times-with-dr-karen-wyatt-and-suzanne-b-o-brien-rn

On this episode of "Ask a Death Doula", I have the great pleasure of interviewing Barbara Karnes RN. Enjoy this lively discussion from this expert about "Pain at End of Life" - the title of her latest educational booklet. Barbara has insights and wisdom that every person can benefit from.

Barbara Karnes, RN, is an internationally recognized author, speaker, thought leader and expert on end of life care and the dynamics of dying. Barbara was recognized in 2018 as a Hospice Innovator by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization and was named the 2015 International Humanitarian Woman of the Year by the World Humanitarian Awards.

Barbara’s experience as a hospice care provider at the bedside of hundreds of people, and as an administrator overseeing the care of thousands, led to the 1985 publication of Gone from My Sight: The Dying Experience. Affectionately referred to in the industry as the “little blue hospice book,” Gone from My Sight has sold over 25 million copies worldwide, is published in 12 languages, and remains the leading resource on the market today educating families on the signs of approaching death.

Links Mentioned in This Episode

Barbara Karnes Books

End of Life Care Facebook Group

Something-To-Think-About Blog

In this segment of Ask a Death Doula's O Mag Insiders Series, I have the fortune to interview the magnetic Amy Boyle. Amy Boyle is the Founder of the 52 Phenomenal Women Project and has been a Brand Ambassador with O, the Oprah Magazine since 2017! A photographer for more than 20 years, Amy graduated from Northwestern University where she received a dual degree in art history and marketing. Her work has been published internationally and includes portrait, theater, PR, as well as fine art photography.

Enjoy this interview with this inspiring woman.

xo Suzanne

You can catch up with Amy Here:

Project: https://www.52phenomenalwomen.com/ #52PWP

Work: http://www.amyboylephotography.com/

Social: @amyboylephoto Email: [email protected]

Death Doulas and Hospice Working Together to Provide the Best Possible Care! In This episode of "Ask a Death Doula" I am speaking with Lynda Anello who is the Community Liaison for Vitas Healthcare. Today we explore the beautiful holistic work of hospice and how Death Doulas are a wonderful support to the present day hospice team. xo Suzanne B. O'Brien RN  

In this Interview of Ask a Death Doula, I have the great pleasure of interviewing Dr. Karen Wyatt! Dr. Karen Wyatt is the bestselling author of the books The Tao of Death and 7 Lessons for Living from the Dying, which contains stories of patients she cared for as a hospice doctor and the spiritual lessons she learned from them at the end of their lives. Dr. Wyatt also hosts End-of-Life University Podcast, which features conversations with experts who work in all aspects of end-of-life care. She is widely regarded as a thought-leader in the effort to transform the way we care for our dying in the U.S. In addition, she is valued for her application of spiritual principles to illness and healthcare and teaches that in order to live life fully we must each overcome our fear of death and embrace the difficulties that life brings us.

Website: https://www.eoluniversity.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eoluniversity/

Twitter: @spiritualmd

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kwyattmd/

On this episode of "Ask a Death Doula", I have the great pleasure of interviewing Barbara Karnes RN. Enjoy this lively discussion from this expert about "Pain at End of Life" - the title of her latest educational booklet. Barbara has insights and wisdom that every person can benefit from.

Barbara Karnes, RN, is an internationally recognized author, speaker, thought leader and expert on end of life care and the dynamics of dying. Barbara was recognized in 2018 as a Hospice Innovator by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization and was named the 2015 International Humanitarian Woman of the Year by the World Humanitarian Awards.

Barbara’s experience as a hospice care provider at the bedside of hundreds of people, and as an administrator overseeing the care of thousands, led to the 1985 publication of Gone from My Sight: The Dying Experience. Affectionately referred to in the industry as the “little blue hospice book,” Gone from My Sight has sold over 25 million copies worldwide, is published in 12 languages, and remains the leading resource on the market today educating families on the signs of approaching death.

Links Mentioned in This Episode

Barbara Karnes Books

End of Life Care Facebook Group

Something-To-Think-About Blog