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In 2011,\xa0Valoria\xa0Walker\u2019s mother was nearing her end of life. While\xa0Valoria\u2019s\xa0sister was her primary caregiver,\xa0Valoria\xa0provided respite care when she could. There was a point when her mother\u2019s health was in serious decline and she was moved from the hospital to hospice. She had chosen to end her dialysis treatments and did not want to be on a ventilator.\xa0\xa0

Valoria\xa0was there with her. Within a couple of hours, her mother was started on powerful anti-anxiety meds and soon slipped into unconsciousness. Hospice staff explained that \u201csometimes, they don\u2019t awaken, again.\u201d\xa0\xa0

While her actually passing wasn\u2019t immediate, essentially, her mother was gone and\xa0Valoria\xa0and her sister would not have another chance to have those final, oh-so-important conversations with their mother. There was no closure. No goodbye.\xa0Valoria\u2019s\xa0brother missed the whole experience!\xa0\xa0

Not surprisingly, this was a powerful turning point for\xa0Valoria; one that would change her life and the course of her work. She began working on Advance Planning Directives, to help others in similar situations have a different experience, to help those who were anticipating their own passing to have a say in what would happen and how the process would progress.\xa0\xa0

Eventually, she found \u201cDoula\u201d training, jumped in, and formed her practice: Doula by Destiny! Her mission is to ensure others don\u2019t have the same kind of experience her family had.\xa0\xa0

Her time now is spent helping others plan for their transitions thoughtfully, so that the individual\u2019s wishes are known and honored. She gets to know and support whole families. She is able to have potentially uncomfortable conversations that loved ones may\xa0avoid.\xa0\xa0

She notes that while we seem to be getting better about talking about death \u2013 before it happens \u2013 there\u2019s still a lot of fear and discomfort associated with it.\xa0She wants to reframe how we think about, talk about, and experience it.\xa0\xa0

Listen in as\xa0Valoria\xa0and host, Laura\xa0Prisc, share experiences, insights, and resources that may help you have a different experience when the time comes.\xa0\xa0

Valoria\u2019s\xa0Bio:\xa0\xa0
Valoria\xa0Walker is an Advance Care Planning Trainer and End-of-Life Doula. She is the founder of her private practice called\xa0Doula by Destiny. As COVID-19 continued to spread,\xa0Valoria\xa0pivoted her business to serve patients and caregivers by providing companion calls and virtual meetings.\xa0\xa0

Valoria\xa0partners with organizations to promote the significance of advance care planning for medical emergencies and holistic care at the end\xa0of\xa0life. Serving as a speaking ambassador to\xa0bring awareness of The End-of-Life Doula Movement, her desire is for everyone to achieve comfort and peace at the end of life.\xa0\xa0

Her recent accomplishments include her interview,\xa0Parting Gift, published in the October edition of The Oprah Magazine. She is the reigning Grand Prize winner of the 2019 Boom Competition sponsored by AARP.\xa0\xa0

Her\xa0plans are to continue supporting individuals in various care settings to stay connected to her calling and the community. She sits as an Advisory Council Member, International End of Life Doula Association (INELDA), and End-of-Life Doula Advisory Council Member for NHPCO.\xa0

Valoria\xa0holds\xa0a Master's in Management of Aging Services. She believes receiving a degree is an accomplishment, but having compassion is a gift.\xa0\xa0

Connect with\xa0Valoria\xa0+ Resources:\xa0

Oprah\xa0Magazine \u2013 Parting Gift\xa0

What is a Doula?\xa0Article\xa0

Let\u2019s Talk Aging\xa0Article\xa0

Human Composting?\xa0Article\xa0

Recompose Life\xa0\u2013 Composting Service\xa0\xa0