July 2025 Mourning Brew

We just had an amazing discussion on death and dying. If you missed this months open forum, mark your calendar for 8pm eastern August 28th. Below is a brief summary for insight on topics.

A rising doula and I discussed work as death doulas and grief coaches, sharing experiences and insights about end-of-life services while exploring potential collaboration opportunities. We delved into topics like advanced directives, healthcare system limitations, and the importance of holistic care, with me offering expertise to support new business endeavors. The conversation concluded with discussions about death denial, medicalization of death, and plans for future Death Cafe events, including guidance on hosting and branding considerations.

We discussed advanced directives and the unique aspects of death doula work, including examples like Ozzy Osbourne's directive for weekly black roses for Sharon. I shared my experience as a death doula in Jacksonville, Florida, highlighting the scarcity of doulas in the area and her focus on Florida-specific services.

Collaboration on Healthcare Resources
I shared information about caringinfo.com, a website containing state-specific resources and documents, and offered expertise to help a rising doula find specific information. We discussed potential collaboration opportunities, with interest in connecting with me due to my extensive background.

Holistic Healthcare Access Challenges
We discussed the limitations of the healthcare system, particularly how it covers doulas in birthing but not death, and the challenges of accessing holistic and functional medicine due to lack of insurance coverage. We agreed on the value of holistic care and the need to address the root causes of health issues rather than just treating symptoms. I also highlighted the addition of grief coaching to her services to support both the dying and their families.

Death Doula Journey Discussion
I shared personal journey into death work, which began in my teens facing difficult situations and later led to studying psychology, though she ultimately pursued a career in the legal field. A new death doula from Wyoming, explained how she connected with me through Facebook and is now starting her own death doula business.

Understanding Death Denial in Society
The group discussed death denial and death defying behaviors in society, with a participant introducing the concept of death denial and sharing his interest in Ernest Becker's book "The Denial of Death." A rising doula shared her perspective on how death has become medicalized, leading to a loss of connection with death as a natural human experience. We shared personal experiences with death, including losses of family members and close friends, which deepened their understanding of the topic.

Ethical Dilemma in End-of-Life Care
The discussion focused on a tragic case involving a hospital patient who was kept on life support for years against her wishes, which became a high-profile issue when it was discovered she was pregnant. The patient, an ICU nurse, had previously expressed her desire to be DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) but her family and POA overruled her wishes, leading to a prolonged legal and ethical debate. The case gained national attention, particularly in Florida, and highlighted the complex intersection of medical ethics, family rights, and legal considerations surrounding end-of-life decisions.

I hope to see you in August!