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, 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 

Steve Gurney, founder of the Positive Aging Community, dives into the realities of aging solo with thoughtful insights drawn from over 35 years in the senior living field. He emphasizes creating a 'personal village' for emotional and practical support. Steve discusses the importance of proactive planning, the role of aging life care managers, and how to select trusted proxies for crucial decisions. He addresses the unique challenges introverts face in building connections, alongside the transformative role of technology in fostering communication and combating isolation.

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 Cindy Spence, massage therapist at the T. Boone Pickens Hospice Center and author of Palliative Touch: Massage for People at the End of Life. Together, they discuss how simple, intentional touch can become one of the most powerful tools for comfort and connection in hospice care. Cindy shares her journey from family caregiver to palliative massage expert, explains the myths and misconceptions surrounding end-of-life massage, and offers deeply practical tips for bed positioning, reading nonverbal cues, and inviting caregivers to confidently engage in comfort touch. This episode is a compassionate guide for anyone supporting a loved one at the end of life, and a beautiful reminder that care doesn't always require words. Key takeaways include: How to use palliative touch without formal training Why proper bed positioning is one of the most overlooked aspects of hospice comfort Tips for reading signs of pain and discomfort when someone can’t speak The emotional weight of caregiving and tools for caregiver self-care This episode is for caregivers, hospice workers, doulas, and anyone who wants to offer dignity, ease, and presence during the final chapter of life. Links/Resources Guest: Cindy Spence – https://finaltouchtraining.com Host: Traci Arieli's Website – https://www.comfortingclosure.com Palliative Touch: Massage for People at the End of Life by Cindy Spence  Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe to stay updated with our latest episodes! 

Katie Keckeisen, a historian and researcher specializing in Victorian grieving practices, brings fascinating insights into the world of 19th-century Spiritualism. She discusses the profound impact of the Fox Sisters on public mourning and how women gained a voice through this movement. The conversation delves into how the Civil War shaped grief and the rituals surrounding it, including the intimate experience of dying at home. Furthermore, technology like the telegraph offered new metaphors for the afterlife, reflecting our enduring quest for connection with the deceased.