The first time I was in the room when someone died was about 20 years ago. I was visiting a friend and her father in the hospital. He had Alzheimer’s and was brought to the hospital because he was having trouble breathing. My friend had come in from out of town because they were expecting it to be the end. When I arrived her father was laying in the fetal position in the hospital bed. His whole body was tense and his face was scrunched. He appeared to me to be in a lot of pain and was struggling to breathe. One of his daughters suggested we pray for him. The five of us, his four children and I, formed a semicircle around the hopsital bed and held hands. We prayed the Lord’s Prayer. Shortly after we were done he took his final breath. His body relaxed and the most peaceful smile came across his face. It was such a beautiful experience and at that moment I remember thinking that everyone’s death should be like that; surrounded by loved ones and exiting with a smile, and hopefully with less apparent pain.

Since then I have taken care of both of my parents at the end of their lives and did my best to give them a peaceful transition. That is my goal for my clients as well and that is where Peaceful Transitions (my end of life doula practice) was born.