One of the most difficult topics for most people to discuss is their own death. When a woman becomes pregnant, family and friends are excited and thrilled with the thoughts and possibilities of new life. We throw 'gender-reveal' parties, go shopping for all the newest gadgets and cute little clothes for infants, mark the date that our female relative is due, and look forward to it all with great anticipation, anxiously awaiting that bundle of joy!
However, the transition of moving from our life experience in this Earthly realm to the unknown is a challenging mystery, one that we can't fully understand, as even though many have had near death experiences, I only know of one person's story who truly rose from the dead, and his story was just celebrated with the Christian Holy week. Jesus died on the cross on a Friday, was placed in a tomb, and a few days later when his mother and friend went to tend to his body, he appeared briefly before ascending into Heaven.
The two women who came to tend to his body, his mother Mary, and Mary Magdalene, his great friend, had come to clean his body, similar to what a current day End-of-Life Doula might do, someone such as Karen Midlo, a local End-of-Life Doula and Certified Grief Counselor. She is one of the many caregiving professionals within the LEARNIdaho organization, a local non-profit whose mission is to help people navigate the joys and challenges of aging and caregiving. Karen is one of the LEARN professionals who will be attending both of this month's LEARNIdaho upcoming Resource Fairs, with our first Resource Fair this week from 10:30 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. on April 10th at the Meridian Center at the Park .
Karen and the End-of-Life Doulas of Idaho understand the importance of talking about death and dying, and she has also started a monthly event at yet another LEARNIdaho member's place of business - Alsip and Persons Funeral Home. This event is called "Living with Death" and this month, Clarke Thompson, the managing partner, will be talking about all things funerary. Serendipitously, this month's talk is on April 10th in the evening from 7:00 P.M. - 8:30 P.M.
Karen was recently interviewed by Gemma Gaudette on Idaho Matters "How Death Doulas are Assisting People at the End of Their Life."
We encourage both our Treasure Valley Seniors and Solo Agers and their loved ones as well as professionals in the Caregiving industry to attend both of these events, come meet all of our vendors, and see just how easy it is to get your questions answered under one roof!
LEARNIdaho - Watch Us Grow!
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