sa国际传媒淓verybody has the right to die a good death.sa国际传媒�

When asked why she became a death doula, that was Janet Osa国际传媒橠ellsa国际传媒檚 sa国际传媒榠n a nutshellsa国际传媒� response.

Osa国际传媒橠ell, a longtime resident of Vancouver Islandsa国际传媒檚 Comox Valley, traded in her dental assistant scrubs a few years ago, and returned to school, to pursue what she describes as a calling.

sa国际传媒淚t started with a little company (discovered online) called Doula Givers out of the USA and immediately thought sa国际传媒榓h, thatsa国际传媒檚 my calling - letsa国际传媒檚 see what Canada needs for requirements,sa国际传媒檚a国际传媒� said Osa国际传媒橠ell. sa国际传媒淪o I took my course through Douglas College (in Vancouver). That was when I realized that I had been doing this for a whole long time - before I even knew what a death doula was.sa国际传媒�

She recalls the death of a friend as being a catalyst for this career change.

sa国际传媒淚 had a friend that passed away from cancer about nine years ago, and I witnessed her not-so-good death. She wanted to stay at home to die, which was her choice. But her family was very little and she didnsa国际传媒檛 have much support, and it was quite a gruesome death. I never want to see that for another person. So thatsa国际传媒檚 where my passion came out.

sa国际传媒淭here is such a thing as a good death - if you plan for it.sa国际传媒�

Osa国际传媒橠ell describes a death doula as sa国际传媒渘on-medical practitioners, who are trained and knowledgeable in supporting the dying, and their families, before, during and after death.sa国际传媒�

Death doulas offer everything from advanced care planning, and end-of-life guidance, to grief support and home death/funeral arrangements.

sa国际传媒淲e meet with our clients and discuss everything, all the planning,sa国际传媒� said Osa国际传媒橠ell. sa国际传媒淲hat are your wishes? What do you want (to be) done with your body? We talk about creating legaciessa国际传媒� for families and loved ones left behind.sa国际传媒�

In addition to preparation, death doulas offer emotional support for the dying.

sa国际传媒淲e will sit, support, listen. We are confidants,sa国际传媒� said Osa国际传媒橠ell. sa国际传媒淚 will meet them, joke with them, keep life in light, in a sense. We are companions. We are guiders. We will help families grieve, even at the time of the diagnosis - anticipatory grief.sa国际传媒�

Osa国际传媒橠ell acknowledges death is not an easy subject for many people. She wants to change that.

sa国际传媒淢y mission is to sa国际传媒榝lip the scriptsa国际传媒� and transform how we think and talk about death,sa国际传媒� Osa国际传媒橠ell said. sa国际传媒淭o encourage and empower others to speak about death. Being a death doula is an honour, it is fulfilling, it is my passion.

sa国际传媒淵ousa国际传媒檙e going to diesa国际传媒� so plan for it.sa国际传媒�

Osa国际传媒橠ellsa国际传媒檚 company, Dynamic Journey, has been operating since May of this year. It is non-denominational.

sa国际传媒淢y philosophy is, as a death doula, I do not judge your choices, your actions, your desires, or your experience. I am here to support you in figuring out what makes sense for you; that may include decision-making, healing, processing, and more,sa国际传媒� she said. sa国际传媒淲e can meet in public, at a park, or outside. We do Zoom meetings, phone calls, text messages - we are virtually everywhere.sa国际传媒�

Osa国际传媒橠ell said there has been a general surge in death doulas, and the pandemic is a major factor.

sa国际传媒淲hat we are seeing, is the medical industry is stressed,sa国际传媒� she said. sa国际传媒淗ealth care workers, so many are taking leaves, or are burned out, or just retiring. We are in a crisis, and death doulas are filling in a void.sa国际传媒�

Osa国际传媒橠ell can be reached at her companysa国际传媒檚 website , or by phone at 250-792-3978.

terry.farrell@comoxvalleyrecord.com
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