When my Dad received the diagnosis of congestive heart failure and then made the decision to stop active treatment and come home on hospice, there were of course, a lot of mixed emotions.  As a family we wanted to support his wishes but at the same time we weren’t looking forward to life without him. Erika came to our family at exactly the right time. She listened deeply to the concerns, fears, hopes, and life stories of my Dad and all of us. She helped us frame what was happening so we could deal with all of our emotions. She helped us to hold space for the kind of dying experience that would honor who Dad was and had been in his life.

Erika respected where we all were, both emotionally and spiritually. She continually checked in with us, asked very poignant questions and then supported our answers. She assisted all involved to find a way to live even though Dad was dying. At the same time, she utilized her experience and expertise to offer an expanded view of dying. This brought a greater meaning and comfort to our family.

We are all grateful for Erika’s presence during this time. She had no problem just hanging out as a support person, even playing card games, or helping clean up after a meal. On the other hand she had no problem digging in with the hard questions and helping us find the even harder answers. I would recommend her to any family who finds themselves in the sad situation of dealing with death and dying. Most of us haven’t had a lot of experience with it and it’s good to know there are experts around who can help guide us through the experience.