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In this episode of Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula, host Traci Arieli speaks with Dr. Tasha Faruqui, a pediatrician and mother navigating the complex path of parenting a child in hospice care.

Together, they discuss what it means to live with intention when time is uncertain. Tasha shares her family’s rare medical journey, the emotional landscape of anticipatory grief, and how hospice care at home became an act of deep presence.

Key takeaways include:

• The lived experience of anticipatory grief as both a clinician and a parent
• Challenges navigating pediatric hospice within a system built for adults
• The balance of professional knowledge and personal vulnerability
• How joy and grief can coexist in the same breath

This conversation aims to normalize pediatric end-of-life care, honor the stories of medically complex families, and invite listeners into a deeper understanding of presence, love, and letting go.

Links/Resources

• Guest: Dr. Tasha Faruqui – https://www.tashafaruqui.com
• Guest Instagram Channel: TheFaruqui5
• Host: Traci Arieli’s Website – https://www.comfortingclosure.com

Resources mentioned:

• Book: Keep Your Head Up - https://www.tashafaruqui.com/book
  

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In this episode of Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula, Traci Arieli explores what happens after the unthinkable: the death of a child. Joined by Ashley Meyveci, founder of the nonprofit Luke’s Purpose, they discuss the emotional and financial shock grieving families face and the lack of systemic support in those first devastating days.

Ashley shares the heartbreaking story of her son Luke, the unexpected medical complications that led to his death, and how she turned her grief into action. Together, Traci and Ashley talk through the hidden costs of child loss, the overwhelming logistics families are expected to manage while in deep grief, and how Luke’s Purpose helps take that burden off their shoulders.

Key takeaways include:

• Why child loss creates both emotional and financial trauma
• What hospitals and medical staff often miss when a child dies
• The origin and mission of Luke’s Purpose
• How we can show up better for grieving parents and for each other

This episode aims to break the silence around child loss, validate the experiences of grieving families, and normalize open, compassionate conversations about death, trauma, and support.

Links/Resources:

• Guest: Luke’s Purpose – https://www.lukespurpose.org
• Host: Traci Arieli’s Website – https://www.comfortingclosure.com

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In this episode of Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula, Traci Arieli sits down with grief counselor and former funeral director Joe Stinson to explore the deeply personal and complex nature of grieving as a family. With over 50 years of experience in deathcare, Joe shares his knowledge and personal journey following the loss of his grandchild, offering a rare perspective on anticipatory grief, complex family dynamics, and how different grieving styles can either divide or unite us.

Together, Traci and Joe discuss the realities of what families go through, before, during, and after a death. They discuss how cultural and religious differences impact grief, why silence can be a powerful tool, and what it truly means to support one another when emotions run high.

Key takeaways include:

• The concept of complex grief and how unresolved losses resurface
• Practical tools families can use to open communication during difficult times
• Why grief isn’t linear, and how to sit with discomfort without judgment
• How family roles, guilt, and misunderstanding can complicate healing and what to do about it

Whether you're a caregiver, professional in the field, or someone navigating your own loss, this episode offers validation, clarity, and encouragement. It's a conversation about making room for every kind of grief and the healing that can begin when we truly listen.

Links/Resources

• Guest: Joe Stinson – Watch Joe's live show Grief Talk with Joe in the Bus on Facebook at www.facebook.com/JoeintheBus
• Host: Traci Arieli’s Website – https://www.comfortingclosure.com
• American Academy of Bereavement – https://www.americanacademyofbereavement.org

Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe to stay updated with our latest episodes. Your support helps us continue normalizing conversations around aging, dying, and grieving.