Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula

I'd love to hear from you! Send me a text message.In this episode of Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula, host Traci Arieli sits down with Dr. Chrissy Salley, pediatric psychologist and Director of Clinician Engagement and Outreach at Courageous Parents Network, and Blair Young, a Parent Champion with the organization and mother to Bubba, who died in 2024.  Together, they discuss what it’s like to raise a child with complex medical needs, and to do so in a system that often delays palliative care and overlooks emotional support. Blair shares her family's powerful story: from the shock of her son’s diagnosis to the grief and clarity that followed his death. Chrissy explains how Courageous Parents Network helps bridge the gap between clinical care and the lived experience of parenting through uncertainty, loss, and love. According to a 2023 Kaiser Family Foundation report, an estimated 19 million children, 26% of all U.S. children under 18, have special health care needs (KFF, accessed 8/4/25). This episode highlights how Courageous Parents Network offers guidance, community, and practical tools for the families behind that number. Topics covered include: The emotional and logistical impact of delayed pediatric palliative care Why peer-to-peer connection is essential The role of Parent Champions in transforming family care How clinicians and parents can walk this path together This conversation is for clinicians, caregivers, and anyone supporting a family with a seriously ill child. It's about listening deeply, showing up, and remembering that no parent should have to face this journey alone.  Links/Resources Please consider donating to the Courageous Parents Network at https://courageousparentsnetwork.org/about/donateGuests:  Dr. Chrissy Salley & Blair Young – https://www.drchrissysalley.com Courageous Parents Network – https://www.courageousparentsnetwork.org Host:  Traci Arieli – https://www.comfortingclosure.com Additional Resources:  NeuroJourney Tool – https://www.neurojourney.org KFF Report – https://www.kff.org/medicaid/issue-brief/5-key-facts-about-children-with-special-health-care-needs-and-medicaid 

I'd love to hear from you! Send me a text message.In Part 2 of this two-part conversation on Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula, Traci Arieli continues her discussion with Vince Crisostomo, longtime HIV/AIDS activist and Director of Aging Services at the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. During the episode, Traci and Vince talk about the grief of surviving, the essential role of chosen family, and the emotional labor of holding space for a generation that is aging, and often dying, without the support they need. Vince speaks openly about what dignity looks like at the end of life, the quiet grief carried by long-term survivors, and the ongoing fight against stigma. Together, they discuss: How grief changes when you’re the one left behind The erasure of HIV in mainstream end-of-life conversations What systems need to do better for those aging with HIV The healing power of community, memory, and being witnessed This episode is not only about HIV, but also about how we show up for each other at the end. It’s a call to honor the full humanity of those who’ve lived through the epidemic, and to ensure they don’t die unseen.  Links/Resources Guest Website: San Francisco AIDS Foundation – https://www.sfaf.org Host Website – https://www.comfortingclosure.com   If this conversation moved you, please like, share, and subscribe. These are the stories that don’t get told and your voice helps carry them further. For questions or to connect, visit https://www.comfortingclosure.com. 

I'd love to hear from you! Send me a text message.In this first of a two-part episode of Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula, Traci Arieli speaks with longtime HIV/AIDS activist Vince Crisostomo about his decades-long journey living with HIV. Diagnosed in the 1980s, Vince shares what it was like to receive a death sentence and then outlive it. Together, they discuss the early years of the AIDS crisis, the trauma of surviving when so many didn’t, and what end-of-life care looked like then versus now. Vince reflects on caregiving, community, and how the legacy of AIDS continues to shape how we approach death, dying, and grief today. Part 2 continues the conversation, focusing more deeply on chosen family, grief, and the ongoing gaps in care for people aging with HIV. Key takeaways from Part 1 include: The emotional weight of surviving the early AIDS epidemic How caregiving shaped Vince’s view of life and death What it meant to be young, gay, and diagnosed in the 1980s The evolving meaning of dignity and support at the end of life This episode aims to honor those lost, uplift those who remain, and invite thoughtful, overdue conversations about HIV and end-of-life care.  Links/Resources Guest Website: San Francisco AIDS Foundation – https://www.sfaf.org Host: Traci Arieli’s Website – https://www.comfortingclosure.com   Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe to stay updated with our latest episodes including Part 2 of this powerful conversation. Help us normalize the conversation around death, dying, and grief because these stories matter. 

I'd love to hear from you! Send me a text message.In this episode of Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula, Traci Arieli sits down with veteran death doula Sarah Hill to answer the questions people are often too afraid, or too unsure, to ask. Together, they discuss what death doulas do, how they complement hospice care, and the deeply personal ways they support individuals and families through dying, grief, and legacy work. Whether you're navigating end-of-life decisions, supporting someone you love, or just curious about the doula role, this honest conversation offers guidance and real-life stories. Key takeaways include: What end-of-life doulas do and how they differ from hospice staff Why people hire doulas for advance planning, even when they’re not dying How doulas hold space during medical aid in dying (MAiD) and voluntary stopping of eating and drinking (VSED) The role doulas play in grief, life review, and legacy work What it's like to be present at the moment of death  Links/Resources Guest: Sarah Hill, East Bay Doula for the Dying – https://www.eastbaydoulaforthedying.com Host: Traci Arieli’s Website – https://www.comfortingclosure.com National End-of-Life Doula Alliance (NEDA) – https://www.nedalliance.org International End of Life Doula Association (INELDA) – https://www.inelda.org Academy of Medical Aid in Dying – https://www.acamaid.org David Kessler - https://grief.com  Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe to stay updated with our latest episodes! 

I'd love to hear from you! Send me a text message.What happens when you're a doctor and still, you can't fix what's happening to your own child? In this second part of our conversation, Dr. Tasha Faruqui shares what it’s like to live in the in-between. She and her husband, both physicians, did everything they could to find answers for their daughter. Every test. Every specialist. Even a policy change in Congress to access care. And still - no clear diagnosis. No fix. Together, we talk about how fear shows up in families, how grief starts long before death, and how sometimes, just saying the hard words out loud becomes its own form of courage. Links/Resources Guest: Dr. Tasha Faruqui – https://www.tashafaruqui.com Guest Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefaruqui5 Host: Traci Arieli’s Website – https://www.comfortingclosure.com Book: Keep Your Head Up – https://www.tashafaruqui.com/book If this conversation moved you, please like, share, and subscribe. These stories help open the door to the conversations we all need but rarely have. 

I'd love to hear from you! Send me a text message.In this episode of Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula, host Traci Arieli speaks with Dr. Tasha Faruqui, a pediatrician and mother navigating the complex path of parenting a child in hospice care. Together, they discuss what it means to live with intention when time is uncertain. Tasha shares her family’s rare medical journey, the emotional landscape of anticipatory grief, and how hospice care at home became an act of deep presence. Key takeaways include: The lived experience of anticipatory grief as both a clinician and a parent Challenges navigating pediatric hospice within a system built for adults The balance of professional knowledge and personal vulnerability How joy and grief can coexist in the same breath This conversation aims to normalize pediatric end-of-life care, honor the stories of medically complex families, and invite listeners into a deeper understanding of presence, love, and letting go. Links/Resources Guest: Dr. Tasha Faruqui – https://www.tashafaruqui.com Guest Instagram Channel: TheFaruqui5 Host: Traci Arieli’s Website – https://www.comfortingclosure.com Resources mentioned: Book: Keep Your Head Up - https://www.tashafaruqui.com/book    Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe to stay updated with our latest episodes. These stories matter—and your voice helps them reach further. 

I'd love to hear from you! Send me a text message.In this episode of Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula, Traci Arieli explores what happens after the unthinkable: the death of a child. Joined by Ashley Meyveci, founder of the nonprofit Luke’s Purpose, they discuss the emotional and financial shock grieving families face and the lack of systemic support in those first devastating days. Ashley shares the heartbreaking story of her son Luke, the unexpected medical complications that led to his death, and how she turned her grief into action. Together, Traci and Ashley talk through the hidden costs of child loss, the overwhelming logistics families are expected to manage while in deep grief, and how Luke’s Purpose helps take that burden off their shoulders. Key takeaways include: Why child loss creates both emotional and financial trauma What hospitals and medical staff often miss when a child dies The origin and mission of Luke’s Purpose How we can show up better for grieving parents and for each other This episode aims to break the silence around child loss, validate the experiences of grieving families, and normalize open, compassionate conversations about death, trauma, and support.  Links/Resources: Guest: Luke’s Purpose – https://www.lukespurpose.org Host: Traci Arieli’s Website – https://www.comfortingclosure.com   Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe to stay updated with our latest episodes. Your support helps us keep these important conversations going. 

I'd love to hear from you! Send me a text message.In this episode of Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula, Traci Arieli sits down with grief counselor and former funeral director Joe Stinson to explore the deeply personal and complex nature of grieving as a family. With over 50 years of experience in deathcare, Joe shares his knowledge and personal journey following the loss of his grandchild, offering a rare perspective on anticipatory grief, complex family dynamics, and how different grieving styles can either divide or unite us. Together, Traci and Joe discuss the realities of what families go through, before, during, and after a death. They discuss how cultural and religious differences impact grief, why silence can be a powerful tool, and what it truly means to support one another when emotions run high. Key takeaways include: The concept of complex grief and how unresolved losses resurface Practical tools families can use to open communication during difficult times Why grief isn’t linear, and how to sit with discomfort without judgment How family roles, guilt, and misunderstanding can complicate healing and what to do about it Whether you're a caregiver, professional in the field, or someone navigating your own loss, this episode offers validation, clarity, and encouragement. It's a conversation about making room for every kind of grief and the healing that can begin when we truly listen.  Links/Resources Guest: Joe Stinson – Watch Joe's live show Grief Talk with Joe in the Bus on Facebook at www.facebook.com/JoeintheBus Host: Traci Arieli’s Website – https://www.comfortingclosure.com American Academy of Bereavement – https://www.americanacademyofbereavement.org  Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe to stay updated with our latest episodes. Your support helps us continue normalizing conversations around aging, dying, and grieving. 

I'd love to hear from you! Send me a text message.In this episode of Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula, end-of-life doula Traci Arieli speaks with Tracey Scheffler, who cared for her mother through the final stages of dementia. Tracey shares her experience with honesty, vulnerability, and deep love. From emotional exhaustion to boundary-setting, from grief to unexpected moments of connection, her story will resonate with anyone who has ever cared for a loved one. Together, Traci and Tracey explore what it means to show up fully in the face of decline, and how caregivers can tend to themselves along the way. This conversation offers support, insight, and a reminder that no one has to walk this journey alone. Links/Resources Guest: Tracey Scheffler – https://parentingourparents.info Guest on TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@parentingourparents Host: Traci Arieli’s Website – https://www.comfortingclosure.com   If this episode resonates with you, please like, share, and subscribe to help others find this important conversation. 

I'd love to hear from you! Send me a text message.In this episode of Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula, I’m joined by Martine Brousse, a medical billing advocate who’s been helping people take back their power in the healthcare system for over a decade. Together, we talk honestly about what really happens when the bill shows up, why it's often wrong, what you can do about it, and how to protect yourself or a loved one before things even get to that point. Martine shares her personal journey from working inside the system to standing firmly on the side of patients. We talk about why even "free" preventive care can still cost you, how to recognize red flags in your bill, and why it’s okay, and necessary, to question what you’re being charged. Whether you're recovering from a hospital stay, preparing for a procedure, or supporting someone through serious illness, this episode offers clear guidance without the jargon. It’s about dignity, financial clarity, and learning how to stand up for yourself. In this conversation, we cover: What most people get wrong about medical bills How to challenge charges without getting lost in the system What it really means to become a “guarantor” for a loved one’s care When and how to ask for discounts or financial assistance How to protect yourself before the bills even start Our healthcare system can be cold and complicated, but you don’t have to face it alone. This episode is here to remind you that you have rights, and that speaking up isn’t just allowed, it’s necessary. Links/Resources Guest: Martine Brousse – https://www.advimedpro.com Host: Traci Arieli – https://www.comfortingclosure.com Resources Mentioned: No Surprises Act – https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises Preventive Care Services – https://www.healthcare.gov/preventive-care-adults/ Your State’s Department of Insurance - for patient rights and complaint support If this episode helped you or got you thinking, please like, share, and subscribe. Your support helps us reach more people who need these conversations.   #DeathDoula #EndOfLifeDoula #MedicalBillingAdvocacy #PatientRights #GriefSupport #AdvanceCarePlanning #CaregiverSupport #NoSurprisesAct #HealthcareAdvocacy