Sidekick Doula - End of Life Doula and Grief Companion, Toronto, ON (2026)

12/19/2024

Providing respite for a beautiful couple today. As I opened the blinds to let in some natural light, I noticed the most delightful surprise outside—a peaceful view of birds enjoying a nearby feeder. It made me wonder, imagine if every palliative care room had birdhouses or feeders like this. The simple joy of nature could bring so much comfort.

P.S. Don’t forget to open the blinds… you never know what beauty might be waiting outside.

03/06/2023

Today, I want to remind everyone that grief follows no rules. It doesn't have a timeline, and it doesn't discriminate. It's okay to feel whatever you're feeling, whenever you're feeling it. There's no right or wrong way to grieve, and it's important to give yourself the time and space you need to process your emotions. Remember to be kind to yourself and those around you who may be going through a difficult time.

Let's support each other through the ups and downs of life, even when the journey feels overwhelming. 🌺

02/27/2023

The sensory experiences of the dying person can be incredibly important during the end-of-life process. As a person nears the end of their life, their physical and emotional experiences may change, and sensory experiences can play a role in helping them to feel comfortable and at peace.

Here are some of the ways in which sensory experiences can be important for the dying person:

🤝Touch: Physical touch, such as holding hands, can be a powerful way to provide comfort and reassurance to the dying person. A gentle touch can help to reduce anxiety and create a sense of connection and support.

🌺Smell: Certain scents, such as lavender or chamomile, can have a calming effect and help to reduce stress and anxiety. Using aromatherapy can be a way to create a peaceful and calming environment for the dying person.

🎼Sound: Music or other calming sounds, such as the sound of rain or waves, can create a soothing and peaceful atmosphere for the dying person. Some people may also find comfort in the sound of a loved one's voice, or in the sounds of nature.

🍭Taste: Offering the dying person their favorite foods or drinks can be a way to provide comfort and familiarity. This can also be an opportunity for the person to experience pleasure and enjoyment during a difficult time. (If they can still eat/drink or you can swab their mouths with some gentle flavours that they love)

👀Sight: Creating a peaceful and comforting visual environment can be important for the dying person. This may involve providing soft lighting, comfortable surroundings, or other visual cues that help to create a sense of calm and relaxation.

Overall, the sensory experiences of the dying person can play an important role in helping them to feel more comfortable and at peace during the end-of-life process. By creating a calming and supportive environment, we can help to ensure that the person feels cared for and supported as they approach the end of their life.

02/21/2023

As a caregiver, it can be easy to forget that we also need care and healing. We spend so much time and energy taking care of others that we often neglect ourselves. Last week was especially tough for me, both personally and professionally, and I knew I needed to do something to recharge and replenish my energy. That's when I decided to treat myself to a massage, something I rarely do.

During my massage, my masseuse noticed the tension in my neck and started working on it. At first, I resisted her touch because it was painful. But then she whispered into my ear, "Let me hold you, let me lead the way. Let go and give into receiving help and healing." Those words struck a chord in me and made me realize that it's okay to let go and receive help and healing.

As caregivers, we often feel like we have to do everything on our own. We take on the responsibilities of caring for a variety of people who need us. And sometimes in doing so, we forget to take care of ourselves.

That's why the words of my masseuse were so powerful. They reminded me that I don't have to do everything on my own. It's okay to ask for help and to let others take care of me for a change. It's okay to let go and receive the love and healing that WE need.

As a caregiver, I want to extend that same message to my clients, past and future. I want to let them know that I have got them. I will hold them and their loved ones in a loving and safe space. I will take the wheel and guide them through their journey, providing them with the care and support they need.

So to all the caregivers out there, remember that it's okay to take time for yourself. It's okay to ask for help and to let others take care of you. You don't have to do everything on your own. And to all my clients, past and future, know that I am here for you. Let me hold you and your loved ones in a loving and safe space. Let me take the wheel and guide you through your journey.

Together, we will navigate the ups and downs of caregiving and come out stronger on the other side. ❤❤❤

02/13/2023

While I may not have walked in your shoes when it comes to your loss, I have been where you are when it comes to the pain of losing someone, and I know how grief can impact your whole world. It can be a lonely and confusing experience.

As your grief companion, I am here for you. Grief can be a difficult and overwhelming experience that doesn't follow any rules, but you don't have to go through it alone. I am here to support you and offer a listening ear, a shoulder to lean on, and a comforting, non-judgmental space to just be you.

No matter what you're feeling, know that I am here for you and that you are not alone. ❤️

02/10/2023

An end of life doula can play a crucial role in supporting individuals and families with advance care planning. They can help in the following ways:

👉Facilitating discussions: They can provide a safe and comfortable environment for individuals and their loved ones to have open and honest conversations about their end-of-life wishes and preferences.

👉 Providing information: They can educate individuals and their families on the different options and resources available for end-of-life care and decision-making, helping them make informed decisions about their future care.

👉 Documenting wishes: They can help individuals and their families document their wishes and preferences in writing, such as through the creation of a living will or healthcare power of attorney.

👉Supporting communication: They can act as a liaison between individuals, their loved ones, and healthcare providers, ensuring that everyone is on the same page and that individuals' wishes are respected.

By working closely with individuals and their families, an end of life doula can provide the support and guidance they need to make informed decisions about their future care and ensure that their wishes are respected. This can bring peace of mind and a sense of control during an often difficult and uncertain time.

We're to help - what questions do you have about advance care planning?

01/09/2023

There are so many ways that we can show up and support someone who is dying as well as their loved ones. You can also be a companion for someone is receiving treatment for a serious illness where the side effects can be debilitating.

Some examples include:
• Respite relief - Encourage loved to step outside, and take some time to catch up with their own lives. To rest.
• Organize or contribute to a meal train
• Help with home tasks – laundry, cleaning, watering the plants, dishes etc.
• Run errands
• Transportation to appointments

It takes a village.

#

01/02/2023

Everyone deserves dignity when faced with an end-of-life situation and have the same rights as everyone else, including the right to express their wishes about end-of-life care, and having those wishes honored. They include the right to make our own decisions, the right to be pain free and the right to privacy. The right to a good death.

As a patient in Canada, you have the right to:

👉Health care services without discrimination
👉Understand your health condition and the treatments available to you
👉A second opinion
👉Have your Advance Directive*/prior capable wishes respected
👉Have the authority of your Substitute Decision-Maker recognized
👉Accept, refuse, or discontinue medical treatments, and to change your mind at any time
👉Decline Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation in accordance with a DNR order)
👉Refuse nutrition and hydration by artificial means or any other aspects of care
👉Pain and symptom management
👉Palliative care (including palliative sedation) if it is appropriate for your condition
👉Request an assessment for medical assistance in dying (MAID)
👉View, obtain, amend and limit access to your own health record

You can download your patient rights guide at: https://www.dyingwithdignity.ca/education-resources/patient-rights-guide/

It can all seem overwhelming, and I would love to help walk through your questions. Reach out, I am here for you, always!

12/02/2022

Death is nothing at all.
It does not count.
I have only slipped away into the next room.
Nothing has happened.

Everything remains exactly as it was.
I am I, and you are you,
and the old life that we lived so fondly together is untouched, unchanged.
Whatever we were to each other, that we are still.

Call me by the old familiar name.
Speak of me in the easy way which you always used.
Put no difference into your tone.
Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow.

Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes that we enjoyed together.
Play, smile, think of me, pray for me.
Let my name be ever the household word that it always was.
Let it be spoken without an effort, without the ghost of a shadow upon it.

Life means all that it ever meant.
It is the same as it ever was.
There is absolute and unbroken continuity.
What is this death but a negligible accident?

Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight?
I am but waiting for you, for an interval,
somewhere very near,
just round the corner.

All is well.
Nothing is hurt; nothing is lost.
One brief moment and all will be as it was before.
How we shall laugh at the trouble of parting when we meet again!

12/01/2022

Hospice is a type of care that helps those with terminal illnesses live their last days comfortably and with dignity.

Hospice care is provided by nurses, social workers, and other health care professionals who work with patients and families to provide the best quality of life during a person's final days. This can be at an inpatient faciality or at home.

The goal of hospice is not to treat the disease itself, but rather to meet the physical, spiritual and emotional needs of people who are living with a life-limiting illness. Hospice specialists focus on bringing comfort and peace to the person and their family members during an often frightening time.

🤝

11/29/2022

Today is

Giving Tuesday is a global day of giving fueled by the power of social media, collaboration and community. Driven by a belief in the power of generosity and its ability to create positive change, Giving Tuesday encourages people to give back to their local communities and the causes they support.

The more I connect with people who need help, the more I realize that giving is not only your donation size, but something more valuable, TIME. Time to love, to listen, to be compassionate. Time to forgive, time to let go and most of time to just show up in way that can make someone's day.

Where are you going to give your time today? And, if today you cannot give time and can donate, who do you believe would benefit the most?

Sidekick Doula - End of Life Doula and Grief Companion

12/19/2024

03/06/2023

02/27/2023

02/21/2023

02/13/2023

02/10/2023

01/09/2023

01/02/2023

12/02/2022

12/01/2022

11/29/2022

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