I first heard the term cumulative grief while working at a Bay Area Hospice, as a Volunteer coordinator, after my partner William passed away. I had gone out on family leave from my former employ, to address some of my own health issues. I was diagnosed as having severe depression and anxiety disorder. While I was addressing those issues is when William was diagnosed as having Stage 4 appendiceal cancer. Not the most common of cancers but we joked that he had to go get a cancer that not many others had—just to be different.
Read moreThe Journey Begins
Very often I am asked by people I meet how I arrived at this point in my life as a Death Doula, assisting souls at the end of life. "I was dragged here kicking and screaming," I used to say, because that was how it felt at the time to me. The reality, however, is that life events and circumstances occurred and I was given divine signs — which I read very carefully — and divine direction — which I followed. They led me to this work. I am very grateful.
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