Welcome to Northern Lights: A Journey into End of Life Studies

Hello sweet friends,

I am writing this to a very exciting grand total of 0 subscribers. This is said with a hint of sarcasm, but a blank slate is actually quite energizing.

For those of you who have navigated here, I am thrilled to have you join me on this exploration of end-of-life care.

In this newsletter, you will find reflections on my end-of-life studies, resources like podcasts and articles, as well as some current news in the fields of palliative and hospice care.

I’ll share a bit more about what to expect from Northern Lights - but first, I’d like to indulge in talking about myself!

I am a perfectly healthy 22 year old girl with zero professional experience in the medical field. So, why am I so obsessed with the concepts of death and dying?

I don’t really know! I think it all started with just being an overly anxious kid. Some of my most vivid memories revolve around my intense fear of death. I was always ruminating and having panic attacks about the mortality of myself and my loved ones.

This fear was challenged in the fall of 2020, when I encountered a book filled with the stories of a palliative care doctor. I will speak more in depth about this particular book and its author later, but for now I will just tell you the most important part:

The information that I learned about the dying process allowed me to support my grandfather while he died last summer.

Did you catch that?

Through gaining knowledge, I transitioned from petrified and helpless into confident and capable.

I want the same for you.

No matter what drew you to this topic, I hope to provide some level of comfort through shared experience and knowledge.

Northern Lights will begin with insights from my studies at the University of Vermont’s End-of-Life Doula program, and the University of Glasgow’s End-of-Life Care: Challenges and Innovations course.

As our exploration progresses, I may share some personal stories as a hospice volunteer and, eventually, as a practicing doula.

I also hope to pursue further formal education in palliative care or end-of-life studies, which I’ll discuss in future letters.

Thank you for being here with me.

All the best,

Marika