Preparing for death with end-of-life doulas.

All Sides is a two-hour daily public affairs talk show designed to touch all sides of the issues and events that shape life in central Ohio.

Working: Greg Brown, End-of-Life Doula

We did a series of articles during The Crossroads’ first year titled “Working,” which consisted of interviews with people who had interesting occupations. We recently reconnected with someone who inspired us to revisit the series.

Greg Brown has found not just an occupation, but a calling. He is an end-of-life doula. In that role, he provides support to individuals who are preparing for death. Brown found his way to this occupation because of personal experiences, and he provides the best account of that journey.

Doulas provide nonmedical emotional support to those facing times of intensity, such as birth, death, and grief. Doulas cultivate a nonanxious presence, validate through attentive listening, hold trust in the inherent wisdom and strength of others, adopt a stance of engaged neutrality and acceptance, allow and welcome silence, respect perspectives and beliefs, and normalize experiences by acknowledging universal suffering as well as commonalities in loss.

My mother died two days into the New Year in 2010. Her quick decline surprised all of us in her family. She kept her grim prognosis a secret until it could be kept no more. She entered hospice five days before she died, giving family and friends very little time to say goodbye. Seven years later, my father died on December 28th. This time, the family was more prepared. Sad as it was, we knew the day was coming, and we had a tender and beautiful holiday season together. We even sang Wham’s “Last Christmas” around Dad’s bed, making fun memories for his grandchildren (my niece and nephew).

It’s a devastating story, the kind that hurts to read. It’s the stuff of worst nightmares. It’s angry and profane. It’s astoundingly beautiful. And it’s filled with humor and hilarity.

Columbus Community Ofrenda