My Story

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My path as a Death Doula began long before I received formal training. I lost my father suddenly at the age of six, and from that moment, death and grief were woven into the fabric of my life. Losing him so young was disorienting—I struggled to make sense of what was happening around me for much of my childhood. Later, I had the profound privilege of witnessing my beloved grandmother’s passing in a much gentler, more peaceful way, and it transformed how I saw death. Being present with her in her final moments revealed to me how sacred and beautiful it can feel to accompany someone to The Gate.

She was living in a nursing home at the time, and we received a call from the nurses that she was no longer eating and likely had only a few days left. I took the day off work and went to be with her. When I arrived, I spoke a few quiet words but mostly sat in silence, reminiscing about the life we had shared. As a child and teenager, I spent countless weekends with my grandmother, June. She loved afternoon tea and would always have the table set with cookies, cakes, specialty cheeses, and olives by the time I arrived. When I'd sleep over, we would watch the evening news together and then get ready for bed. As part of our nightly routine, she would ask “Did you brush your pearls?” and then tuck me into bed with layers upon layers of flannel sheets, blankets, duvets, soft pillows, and a kiss goodnight. Spending time at my grandmother’s place always felt like a haven. She knew how to make me feel safe and loved.

When I went to the nursing home to see her on her final day, I wanted her to feel that same love and warmth that she had shown me all my life, as she was leaving this earth. I sat with her for several hours, mostly in silence as she was non-verbal by that point. Her breathing became more and more irregular. My brother that lived out of town called to say his goodbyes and I held up the phone to her ear so she could hear his words of love and gratitude. After sitting with her for a few hours, I felt like our time together was complete, so I gave her a final kiss and tucked a plush dog under her arm so that she had something soft to hold onto. A few minutes later, my uncle arrived to say his goodbyes, and that is when she took her final breath.

A few months after my grandmother passed, I went to see a medium and connected with my grandmother's spirit. She shared that my presence at her bedside had made her feel "bathed in love" as she crossed over. It was at this moment that I started to feel strongly called to hold others in compassion and love as they transition out of this realm. Shortly after, I felt called to train in Reiki. As my practice developed, I realized I could use this modality to ease others’ journeys from one realm to the next, as I had done for my grandmother. I began volunteering at my local hospice organization, took doula training, and eventually started Between Realms.