Deeper connection and understandings by sharing stories
We welcome you to share your stories with us, we will post them here.
“An end-of-life time can be an awakening of extra-ordinary experiences.”
By Rev. Lisa L. Burtraw
There are many stories which any of our ministers can share. My experience prompted me to offer healing’s in this way to the community goes like this: I came to the side of my friend Steve who was a teacher and musician when he was in need and struggling with brain cancer. I became a part of a care team of close friends of his, and we bonded for life. During the time of his last year, I spent most of my extra hours with him outside of work. We loved him up, had long visits, took him on trips, we took him to doctor appointments, made sure he had healthy food to eat, helped him with getting his medications, through a final CD release party for him, and helped him to laugh dance and smile. We even did a House Cleansing, which seemed to perk him up more and extend time. We gave him an amazing last time of his life.
At the very end of his life, the final days, he only wanted two people dear to him by his side, and one was I. We made the house beautiful, created altars, played ongoing beautiful peaceful music, and attended to him with our hearts wide open. He had decided to use the Death with Dignity medication when he felt it was time, and we helped him through this. This was a profound and very personal experience for me. It was difficult at times, and very sad to see him go. And, after that, life was never the same for me; I felt changed, and missed my friend.
After he passed, we took care of his final business, and taking care of the funeral arrangements to celebrate his life. Grievance counselors helped us through the whole process, which I found quite helpful. After that, he gave me a big thank you through a message. He also contacted me in other ways that were very surprising, affirming to me that it is absolutely possible for those who enter the spirit world to be able to contact and communicate with us through dreams and physical form.
A few weeks afterwards, the two of us who were with him in the final hours, were gifted and taken to Maui for a trip with friends from the care circle. This was truly a gift and was instrumental in helping us to relax, decompress, recharge and refuel.
Our circle continues to be unbroken, we are tight nit and annually get together upon our friend’s remembrance honoring the date he passed. This has been going on now for over 10 years now.
The gift from helping my friend through though his transition has given me the strength and experience to help others go through this process. This will happen to everyone we know, including ourselves.