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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

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In this episode of Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula, end-of-life doula Traci Arieli speaks with Tracey Scheffler, who cared for her mother through the final stages of dementia.

Tracey shares her experience with honesty, vulnerability, and deep love. From emotional exhaustion to boundary-setting, from grief to unexpected moments of connection, her story will resonate with anyone who has ever cared for a loved one. Together, Traci and Tracey explore what it means to show up fully in the face of decline, and how caregivers can tend to themselves along the way.

This conversation offers support, insight, and a reminder that no one has to walk this journey alone.

Links/Resources

• Guest: Tracey Scheffler – https://parentingourparents.info
• Guest on TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@parentingourparents
• Host: Traci Arieli’s Website – https://www.comfortingclosure.com

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In this episode of Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula, I’m joined by Martine Brousse, a medical billing advocate who’s been helping people take back their power in the healthcare system for over a decade. Together, we talk honestly about what really happens when the bill shows up, why it's often wrong, what you can do about it, and how to protect yourself or a loved one before things even get to that point.

Martine shares her personal journey from working inside the system to standing firmly on the side of patients. We talk about why even "free" preventive care can still cost you, how to recognize red flags in your bill, and why it’s okay, and necessary, to question what you’re being charged.

Whether you're recovering from a hospital stay, preparing for a procedure, or supporting someone through serious illness, this episode offers clear guidance without the jargon. It’s about dignity, financial clarity, and learning how to stand up for yourself.

In this conversation, we cover:

• What most people get wrong about medical bills
• How to challenge charges without getting lost in the system
• What it really means to become a “guarantor” for a loved one’s care
• When and how to ask for discounts or financial assistance
• How to protect yourself before the bills even start

Our healthcare system can be cold and complicated, but you don’t have to face it alone. This episode is here to remind you that you have rights, and that speaking up isn’t just allowed, it’s necessary.

Links/Resources

• Guest: Martine Brousse – https://www.advimedpro.com
• Host: Traci Arieli – https://www.comfortingclosure.com

Resources Mentioned:

• No Surprises Act – https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises
• Preventive Care Services – https://www.healthcare.gov/preventive-care-adults/
• Your State’s Department of Insurance - for patient rights and complaint support

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#DeathDoula #EndOfLifeDoula #MedicalBillingAdvocacy #PatientRights #GriefSupport #AdvanceCarePlanning #CaregiverSupport #NoSurprisesAct #HealthcareAdvocacy

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In this episode of Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula, I’m joined by Steve Gurney, founder of the Positive Aging Community, for a practical conversation about what it means to age solo and why none of us are truly alone in this journey.

More and more people are navigating aging without a spouse, children, or close family nearby. But solo aging isn’t just about who’s in your life; it’s about how you prepare, connect, and create a circle of support that reflects your values. Steve introduces the concept of a “personal village,” and we talk about how building this kind of intentional community can bring care, meaning, purpose, and peace of mind.

Together, we explore:

• Why the idea of “solo aging” affects more of us than we think
• How to take small but powerful steps to build your support system
• What to consider when choosing a healthcare or financial proxy
• The role of aging life care managers and how they can help
• How life planning can deepen, not dampen, how we live now

This episode is for anyone who has ever wondered, “Who will be there for me?” and those ready to answer that question with care, clarity, and courage. Whether you’re aging alone, caregiving for a parent, or simply rethinking your own future, I hope this conversation offers you encouragement and tools to move forward with confidence.

Links/Resources

• Guest: Steve Gurney – https://www.retirementlivingsourcebook.com
• Host: Traci Arieli's Website – https://www.comfortingclosure.com
• Aging Life Care Association – https://www.aginglifecare.org
• Co-housing Communities – https://www.cohousing.org

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In this episode of Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula, Traci Arieli sits down with Cindy Spence, massage therapist at the T. Boone Pickens Hospice Center and author of Palliative Touch: Massage for People at the End of Life. Together, they discuss how simple, intentional touch can become one of the most powerful tools for comfort and connection in hospice care.

Cindy shares her journey from family caregiver to palliative massage expert, explains the myths and misconceptions surrounding end-of-life massage, and offers deeply practical tips for bed positioning, reading nonverbal cues, and inviting caregivers to confidently engage in comfort touch. This episode is a compassionate guide for anyone supporting a loved one at the end of life, and a beautiful reminder that care doesn't always require words.

Key takeaways include:

• How to use palliative touch without formal training
• Why proper bed positioning is one of the most overlooked aspects of hospice comfort
• Tips for reading signs of pain and discomfort when someone can’t speak
• The emotional weight of caregiving and tools for caregiver self-care

This episode is for caregivers, hospice workers, doulas, and anyone who wants to offer dignity, ease, and presence during the final chapter of life.

Links/Resources

• Guest: Cindy Spence – https://finaltouchtraining.com
• Host: Traci Arieli's Website – https://www.comfortingclosure.com
• Palliative Touch: Massage for People at the End of Life by Cindy Spence

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In this episode of Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula, host Traci Arieli explores the mystical and emotionally charged world of 19th-century grief and belief. Joined by historian and researcher Katie Keckeisen, creator of the digital exhibit Beyond the Veil: Spiritualism in the 19th Century, they discuss the rise of Spiritualism during the Victorian era and how it shaped public mourning, personal grief, and the deep desire to stay connected with the dead.

Together, they talk about how the Fox Sisters sparked a national movement, how Spiritualism gave women an unexpected public voice, and why post-Civil War America was especially hungry for messages from beyond.

Key takeaways:

• Understanding how death was ritualized
• How new technology like the telegraph shaped metaphors for the afterlife
• How grief gave rise to a distinctly American spirituality.

This episode offers a powerful look at the intersection of mourning, meaning, and mysticism - inviting listeners to reexamine how we’ve historically coped with loss and longing.

Links/Resources

• Guest's Book Recommendation: Talking to the Dead: Kate and Maggie Fox and the Rise of Spiritualism by Barbara Weisberg
• Host: Traci Arieli’s Website – https://www.comfortingclosure.com

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