Calgary death doula courses train those wanting to help

Alexandra MacKinnonremembers the momenther mom passed awaynearly 16 years ago.

She got a call from the hospitalone night sayingher momhadfalleninto a comaand wasn't coming back. MacKinnonwasn't prepared for thenext step.

She says it was "a little scary when I had to turn the machines off."

"I was by myself, [mymom] asked that I do everything on my own, not withmy brother, not my father, not anybody,so there's a little fear when you first turn off the machines, because there's nocoming back," said MacKinnon.

A deathdoula, or death midwife as they are also known, is not a regulated profession and there's no certifyingbody oroverarching job description.

Thedoulacan help create death plans some provide spiritual care, psychological and social support, and sometimesphysical care.

MacKinnonsays despite the stress, overall it wasan "incredible privilege, and knowing thatmy mom would be proud, because it takes a lot of strength to be there. At the same time it was beautiful."

Spiritual aspects of death

MacKinnon says she now wants to bea death doula for children and their families.She's hoping tomerge her drumming skills, which she believes could be healing in a palliative care setting,with the spiritual and practical aspects of death thatshe will be learning this weekend.

Close to 20 people are enrolled in theworkshop calledHome Death Care Education, one oftwo different coursesbeing offered in Calgarythis weekendspecifically dealing with end-of-life care.

The other course is longer and more intensive. It's being offeredover sixweekendsthroughtheToronto-basedInstitute of Traditional Medicine.

"I'm reallyexcited. I've been waiting for this." said MacKinnon. "Because I'm passionate about bringing death home, about people caring for the bodies at home."

'What exactly is a death midwife?'

Pioneers like CalgarianSarah Kerrsay anyonewho wants to do this workneeds to pull together their own skills and passion and find the path that's rightfor them.

"I get so many calls from people who say, 'You're a death midwife? Iwant to be a death midwife,' and then there's apause and they say, 'What exactly is a death midwife?'"

Kerrhas been practicingfor about twoyears.Through her company Soul Passages, she offers at-home funerals andmemorials, helps families deal with death, offers euthanizingrituals for pets, and provides teaching andmentoring opportunities.

"One of the important lessons we need to learn is that death is safe. It'snot dangerous to be with it, it's not dangerous to talk about it," saidKerr. "Talking about death doesn't bring it on anymore quickly."

Not a money maker, yet

Kerr says it's such a new field that even though she charges for her services, it's not enough to live on.

"I think there is apotential for it to be an incomegeneratingthingin a bigger way," she said.

"Its really fascinating to me the number of people who are called to do this work. Its almost more than people who want me as a practitioner.There is a huge hunger formeaningful work."

MacKinnon says she's been working towards her goal for the past two years, but hopes the Home Death Care Education workshopwill give her the confidence she needs to consider herself a death doula.

"We all celebrate a baby coming into the world. We prepare for it, and it's so wonderful. And wouldn't it be wonderful to do the opposite ... and let go in a joyous manner."