To the Editor:
I used to be an oncology social worker at the Dempsey Center. Before working at the Center, I remember the days when a diagnosis of Cancer was an unspoken word, especially to the person who has it. ”Don’t tell him… It will scare him…He shouldn’t know he’s going to die, etc. …”
Then a breakthrough occurred and the Cancer word was spoken. Terminally ill people started facing their mortality and feeling more in charge of whatever they could be in charge of. Then another breakthrough occurred – people were witnessing how the medical world would go to extraordinary efforts to keep someone alive. They started saying, “No, I don’t want that….” And they began taking charge of stating what heroic measures they would and would not allow. Advanced Directives began to be utilized.
And now, we’re reaching the next breakthrough of facing our mortality. We have the opportunity to enlist the support of a Death Doula to support the individual and/or family members on the final end-of-life journey.
On Thursday, January 18 at 1:30 p.m., there will be a program upstairs at the Congregational Church entitled ‘What is a Death Doula?’ In case of bad weather, there is a snow date set for Thursday, January 25 at 1:30 p.m.
There will be three certified Death Doulas who will share what their roles are and answer your questions. Darlene Beck, D. Lee Berry, RN, and Janet Willie, LMT, LPN. This is by donation to Western Mountains Senior College. WMSC prefers people register through MSAD #44 Adult and Continuing Ed.
Emily Ecker
Woodstock
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