Hes also the author of the book,Death Is But A Dream.
Daniel Lynn is a hospice volunteer and advocate for Go2 Foundation For Lung Cancer.
As a doctor, youre taught that death is the one thing to avoid.
Death is not a sad experience for everyone, Dr. Kerr says.
Its devastating to lose a loved oneto COVID-19 or otherwise.
But hospice workers offer special insight into whats often overlooked when we talked about dying.
trained professional death doula, helping those at the end of life and their families.
And with their observations comes something we all collectively need right now: healing.
My current wife and I are both hospice volunteers in Williamsburg, Virginia, he says.
Lynn doesnt deny that losing a loved one is extremely heartbreaking.
When my first wife was dying of lung cancer, I grieved deeply, he says.
Just as people live in different ways, people die in different ways.
Family members who havent talked in years may start communicating regularly.
Grudges are dismissed, replaced by forgiveness and peace.
Angela Shook works as adeath doula, a trained professional who supports someone at the end of their life.
Shes also seen how important relationships become at the end of life.
trained professional death doula, helping those at the end of life and their families.
One woman I worked with was known in her family as this amazing cook.
Everyone loved her food.
So for her legacy project, we made a cookbook of her recipes that all her children could have.
And we used her old clothes to make an apron for her daughter.
It was extremely meaningful to her, and also to them.
He says 88 percent of his hospice patients report seeing visions as they die.
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He cannot offer a scientific explanation for these phenomena.
We know that by looking at the brain; its not changing biologically or functionally.
I think people are changing very much spiritually.
To me, visions like these show that we really dont die alone.
And there can be comfort and even joy in dying.
Angela Shook, death doula
Shook says many of her clients have also had visions.
One 83-year-old woman I worked with had been feeling very agitated for the three days.
But when I walked into her room one day, she had a peaceful smile on her face.
I looked over at her and she was rocking her arms, as if she was holding a baby.
The patient died shortly after that, and Shook shared what she saw with the patients son.
To me, visions like these show that we really dont die alone.
And there can be comfort and even joy in dying.
Not everyone, though, has happy visions.
Of course, it would be unfair to paint everyones end of life experience as peaceful and uplifting.
The truth is, death is sometimes accompanied by pain and suffering, both physical and emotional.
Often, people have a question of why me?
Lynn says, adding that some are angered by whats happening to them.
It seems death, like other stages of life, isnt all good or bad.
Its strengthened my belief that theres more beyond what we can see.
Our work in hospice and palliative care has become invaluable during the pandemic, Dr. Kerr says.
Personally, I feel a bit lost, he says.
My work is most meaningful when defined by direct interpersonal relationships with patients, families, and colleagues.
It is so important to take the time to grieve and realize that grief looks different for everyone.
Many facilities and hospices in which many doulas work have restrictions on visitors.
He sympathizes with this sentiment, but offers up some words of comfort.
They revisit the memories of being held and cherished, the apotheosis of a life rather than its demise.
They teach us that the best parts of having lived are never truly lost.
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