Often, I think back to special residents whom I brought their last favorite food or when I’d sit just a little bit longer with a sweet soul who was having a hard time letting go. I remember one man who had undergone such invasive procedures and walked around with a bloody head bandage for weeks while everyone looked at him in horror, staff included. Eventually he felt so rejected and embarrassed that he refused to come out to the dining room to enjoy his meals, so I’d drop them off myself. Then the hairdresser declined to cut his hair because it was full of blood, a hybrid of crusted and new ooze. My heart broke for him. The next day, I brought my own sheers and shaver. I was privileged and honored to be his barber and give him his last haircut with dignity. When I came to work the following day, the nurses asked me if I wanted to pay my respects at the bedside. Of course, I did. My friend died in bed at peace, and I said a prayer over him, touched his hand and brushed his hair out of his closed eyes.
As crushing as these stories are, they’re only a few. As we say in long term care (and most industries, I’d imagine; but especially in healthcare), we could write a book about it. And you wouldn’t even believe it. Yet these memories provide me with the access to free-flowing spiritual energy, from one soul to another. I don’t suppress them or hide them. As a matter of fact, I relish in them. There is beauty in the valley. It wasn’t my fate to be there for any of those children though. And I definitely am not seeking that type of experience unless it is the will of God. I remain in wonder on how this insight will lead me to my future endeavors as a living death doula.
Want a deeper dive? Check out Chapter 5: Living as a Death Doula of ‘Rise Above: A Playbook On How-To Keep Energy Flowing.’
Photo by Andrea Donato on Unsplash
Dr. Jaime L. Pula is the author of her newly released book titled, ‘Rise Above: A Playbook On How-To Keep Energy Flowing.’ She can be reached at jpula@artofhealthsciences.life. And she enjoys connecting on LI at: www.linkedin.com/in/drjaimelpula001/.