About Me
Karli Lowes
“Walk fearlessly into the house of mourning for grief is just love squaring up to its oldest enemy. And after all these mortal human years, love is up to the challenge” -Chaplain, Kate Braestrup.
Inspire: Change. A new phase in the culture of Death and Dying.
In my work as a Registered Nurse, and now as an End of Life Doula, it has been an undeniable purpose of mine to be a calming and supportive presence for those navigating the end of life. With advances in healthcare, people living longer and the trend of death and dying being removed from our homes, we are culturally in a period of “death denial.” We have collectively forgotten how to live with the truth that humans have been dying for as long as we have been living. But in the vast history of humanity, this has not always been the case. It is my belief that it does not have to remain this way. Together, we can approach end of life through a new lens, and remember how to guide each other, educated and supported, through death and grief. If you are facing end of life for yourself or a loved one, I want you to know that my most impactful moments providing end of life care have not been medical, they have been rooted in human connection. We all have the ability to provide this loving support. Deep down, we already know how to do this.
Inspire: Community. End of Life education, planning and outreach.
As an End of Life Doula, I create a safe space to explore ideas and attitudes about death and dying. I will foster an environment where forgiveness can be explored, and relationships can be healed. I believe that by beginning to heal our culture of death denial, we can inspire one another to not only hope for, but also to purposefully plan for a Good Death. With the right resources and support, families are better able to make informed choices about what they would want at the end of life. My experience as a nurse and my education as a Doulagivers Care Consultant provide me with the skills and expertise to help you plan and prepare for your own Good Death. Through planning and preparedness, we can take some of the fear out of this process.
Inspire: Empowerment. To know a good death is to know a good life.
I will empower you in the face of uncertainty, to make each day the best that it can be. If you’ve been impacted by the difficult passing of a loved one, if you or a loved one has been diagnosed with a terminal illness and need support, if you’re seeking education and assistance so that you may plan ahead and prepare for your own Good Death, Inspire End of Life Doula can support you on your journey. I know that together, in community, we can slowly open our hearts to fully experience both the grief and the love present at the sacred end of life transition. It is my deepest honor to guide you into the House of Mourning, supported, educated and empowered.
I know two things with certainty, no one should ever have to do this alone, and wherever you may be in the process, “love is up to the challenge.”
About
Doulagivers
Institue
International Doulagivers Institute is a globally recognized institute that provides the highest level of education and certification for professional Death Doulas.
Suzanne B. O’Brien is a registered nurse who has worked most of her career in either Hospice (end-of-life care) and/or Oncology (cancer care).
She has had the honor and privilege to have personally worked at the bedside with over one thousand end-of-life patients and their families, from all different cultures, backgrounds, and nationalities.
In addition to being the creator and founder of Doulagivers Institute, she is also a founding member of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization’s (NHPCO) End of Life Doula Council and a founding member and former Vice President of the National End of Life Doula Alliance (NEDA).
For over a decade now, she has been training End-of-Life Doulas to help support and serve our vulnerable elder population.
She helps incredibly passionate people become the best possible non-medical, holistic practitioner you can be, so that you can help the people that need you most.
“Death can be the natural, sacred experience it was meant to be with the right kindness, education and support.”
—Suzanne B. O’Brien, RN