I’m a licensed massage therapist and certified end-of-life doula based in Anchorage, Alaska. I’m the founder and sole practitioner at Alaska Hospice Massage, LLC, where I offer in-home massage therapy for people at the end of life and for those who are caring for them. As far as I know, I’m currently the only therapist in Anchorage specializing in this kind of touch-based support for those in home health and hospice care.

My journey into this work began in 2020 when I became the primary caregiver for my mother during her time in hospice. Guiding her through her final days reshaped everything I thought I knew about living, dying, and caring.

Most people assumed that I had massaged her during that time, but the truth is, I was terrified. She was in so much pain, and I didn’t yet understand how to offer comfort through touch without fear of doing harm. She was my first death and I felt helpless and unprepared. Sitting with her through the raw reality of death opened my eyes to just how much support is needed for both the dying and for those who love them.

I crawled into her bed and held her in my arms as she took her last breath. It was the only time outside of holding her hand that I had truly touched her and that experience changed me. I realized later that she was scared to let go and that like all of us, she needed to be held in order to feel safe enough to die. In that moment I realized I wasn’t too soft for this work—my empathy, gentleness, and presence were exactly what was needed. I would not have a heart this big if I wasn’t meant to share it.

Since her passing, I’ve awakened to my calling to end-of-life care. I have volunteered as a hospice companion, currently serve on the board of a local nonprofit that advocates for Alaskans to make empowered choices at the end of life, and have completed a death doula certification through the International Doulagivers Institute to expand the ways I can show up for individuals and families during this sacred transition.

Whether I’m providing palliative massage, emotional support, or simply holding space, my goal is to bring comfort, connection, and a sense of peace to those navigating the end of life. It’s an honor to walk beside people during this time, and I carry each story with me in the work that I do.