Meet Sheri
“The healthiest response to death is to
Love, Honor and Celebrate Life.”
-Ira Byock
Hi, I’m Sheri!
I am a Geriatric Nurse Care Coordinator, Elder Care Consultant and End of Life Doula. To fulfil my passion to serve people holistically, I found I needed more than just my medical background. I have certifications in Integrated Nutrition, Aromatherapy, Polestar Pilates and Doulagivers Specialist Program . I am NEDA proficient as well.
I always offer hope, even as what is hoped for changes. Helping, navigating, and coaching people and their families in their end months, weeks, days, and hours toward a gentle end of life transition is a blessing that comes with knowledge, support, and planning.
I am honored to work with and guide you and your loved one as you move through the most challenging, intimate, healing, and meaningful of life’s experiences.
As a nurse, I worked Labor and Delivery and Neonatal ICU, some ER, some Med Surg, Medical ICUs and moonlighted at several nursing homes. I was drawn to and found my passion working with adults, older adults and especially Veteran population. After getting my BSN from University of Florida, I earned my MSN from St. Louis University and worked as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, specializing in Geriatrics. (ANCC certified).
The focus of my work was Cardiology, Telehealth, Home Primary Care for frail and/or older Veterans with complex comorbidities (such as heart disease, diabetes, lung disease, dementia, stroke, etc.). I often collaborated with Hospice teams to optimize palliative and end of life care. Hospice is awesome in most cases, making a huge difference for people. Sadly, due to the model of care and Medicare restrictions , more than half of the patients or caregivers felt they needed more support. I learned a lot from these patients, as we all worked together to optimize each day.
Twenty plus years ago, I had an epiphany, as I was holding my Mom as her physical body died and her spiritual being transitioned on. This is where my real education and verification came from, confirming that I have much to offer being an End of Life Doula. The emotions were complicated and all over the map. As I talked to her, giving her permission to move on, tears rolling down my cheeks, I felt ‘love, honor, and a celebration for life’. Her life and my life. The CIRCLE of LIFE became so authentic, so human, so unbroken. Here is this wonderful lady who birthed me, brought me into this world and held me as I took my first breath here on earth. Now, here is this wonderful lady who I hold, as she exits this world and takes her last breath here on earth. It was a crazy feeling, loving, complete… complete as a circle can be. Right then and there, I said to myself, “I feel like a doula only in reverse, a death doula, a death midwife, an End-of-Life doula”.
