From Butterflies to Angels

Have you been following death doulas online and seeing us talk about end of life planning?  Do you want to get started on your own but have no idea where to start?  Do you even know what you want for your end of life?

Why am I doing a second podcast about planning?  Because if you fail to plan you plan to fail as the saying goes.   However I will try to make this my last planning episode because there are so many things we can talk about.

I really hope that this podcast along with episode 6 helps you get started on your end of life planning adventure.

You can leave a voice note for me at www.speakpipe.com/frombutterfliestoangels or go to my website www.frombutterfliestoangels.com and send me a message from the FAQ tab.  

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As I continue to assist postpartum parents who are grieving the loss of their child or children, it made me thing of this book, Ghost Belly.  While I have shared my account of losing my daughters, I find it helpful to hear from others as well so I decided to share a short excerpt from one of my favorite books(if you can have a favorite book about child loss).  

This book is Elizabeth Heineman’s personal account of a home birth that goes tragically wrong—ending in a stillbirth—and the harrowing process of grief and questioning that follows. It’s also Heineman’s unexpected tale of the loss of a newborn: before burial, she brings the baby home for overnight stays.

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While I was on my self-care break I begin to notice the word grief swirling around a lot.   I guess I had gotten so used to hearing it that it became part of my everyday language.  On my self-care break all of the random chatter got a lot quieter in my head and the important things became louder. 

Everyone one is grieving something or someone.  This meditation is dedicated to those who are grieving lost loved ones.  I hope this helps someone. 

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Just like the title says, I am closing for self care.  I need to take a bit to process 2021.  I have a bad habit of working when I should be resting...or stretching myself a little thin at times.  With two hospice patients and and a client,,,plus this lovely podcast and my family, something had to pause.  

Thank you so much for listening!  Happy New Year!!!  See you in 2022!!!

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One of the phrases I hear very often in the military is "Words Matter".   I think we can all agree that they definitely do matter and they also have the power to change the perspective of a situation....and sometimes the outcome too.  

In this podcast we explore a few words or phrases used when talking about people who are dying from illnesses or dying in general.  I also talk about how we can turn those phrases or word around and put a more positive spin on death and dying.  

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As a deathcare worker, I am not immune to grief and feeling that follow when a loved on has died.  In this podcast I share my feelings and memories about my cousin Joy who won her battle with cancer at the young age of 39 and got to be with her mom in the Ancestor realm.  

Have feedback? I'd love to hear from you. Click here to leave a voice message for me on Speakpipe.  Or go to https://www.speakpipe.com/frombutterfliestoangels  Hope to hear from you!

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-        All of use will die sooner or later.  

-        Our life span is constantly decreasing. 

-        Death will come whether we are prepared or not.  

-        Our life expectancy is uncertain.

-        Death has many causes.  

-        Our body is fragile and vulnerable.  

-        When we die our material resources are useless.  

-        Our loved ones cannot keep us from death. 

-        Our body cannot help us at the time of death.


Have feedback? I'd love to hear from you. Click here to leave a voice message for me on Speakpipe.  Or go to https://www.speakpipe.com/frombutterfliestoangels  Hope to hear from you!

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I like to to say the only fact about life is death.  I do not know where I heard it but I have adopted it as my unofficial motto.   Knowing that our time here on this planet as a human being is finite, it's very important that we move as such for the sake of the ones we will leave behind. 

Not only should we take full advantage of everyday that we have on this earth and attempt to live life to the fullest; we should also plan ahead so that when death comes our loved ones have an idea on how to proceed.   Time waits for no one.  The young and the old day everyday.  

We all need to start making plans now.    It'll make things easier in the end.  

Have feedback? I'd love to hear from you. Click here to leave a voice message for me on Speakpipe.  Or go to https://www.speakpipe.com/frombutterfliestoangels  Hope to hear from you!

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In this podcast episode I talk about what a "good death" would look like for me.  The ideas that I have and the things that I talk about are how I expect my family to proceed one my dying process begins.  

Have you ever thought about what you want your death to look like?  If not what are you waiting for?  Talking about death isn't going to kill.  

Have feedback? I'd love to hear from you. Click here to leave a voice message for me on Speakpipe.  Or go to https://www.speakpipe.com/frombutterfliestoangels  Hope to hear from you!

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In this podcast you will learn about some of the services a death doula/ deathcare worker may offer.  There are more services that can be provided but it’s almost impossible to name them all due to the intimacy and individuality of this work and this person.  My hope is that I gave you enough information for you to understand the work that a death doula does and to understand why some of our service may be need. 

 Honestly my ultimate goal is for families not to need us as time goes on…for us to be able to educate enough people that all of the things a death doula does becomes second nature to the family of a dying loved one.  If I can get just a few families on this journey of death education and care, part of my purpose on earth will have been fulfilled. 

Thank you for listening!  If you have any feedback, comments, or concerns please send me an email.  I’m also trying a new thing called speakpipe.  You can leave me a voice message is emailing is not your thing.  I love to hear people’s voices so I’m really excited about this.

Have feedback? I'd love to hear from you.  Click here to leave a voice message for me on Speakpipe. https://www.speakpipe.com/frombutterfliestoangels  Hope to hear from you!

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