danielle slupesky
End of Life Guide, Death Doula, Peer Grief Companion
From Emergency Room Nurse to End-of-Life Guide
I've dedicated my entire adult life to caring for others. Starting out as an EMT at 18 years old and later earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, I spent several years working as an RN in the emergency department.
At age 29, I found myself hospitalized for over three months, most of it in the ICU, on a ventilator. I endured a series of daunting health challenges, including a blood clot in my lung, sepsis, kidney failure, and multiple abdominal surgeries resulting from a medical error - all culminating in a near-death experience (NDE).
Even though I was surrounded by friends and family, I was terrified and felt alone. My husband, an EMT himself, was completely overwhelmed and felt helpless. We were young and had not yet completed any advance care planning. He was forced to be in a position to make medical decisions for me.
This profound journey taught me the art of surrender and filled me with an immense sense of compassion, for those that are facing a health crisis or end-of-life. I was no longer afraid of death. I emerged from this experience with a mission to support others in embracing death as a natural part of life and to create a space where it’s okay to talk openly about it. I now work to educate others about their choices and options so that they can have a peaceful, personalized death experience. I've learned that by discussing death, we can lessen its fear and by planning, we can avoid unexpected outcomes.
I believe like birth, death can be a journey we navigate with love and courage, and I’m here to help guide others through this incredible transition.