Stephanie Crawford, RN

My nursing career began in 2016 at Stanford Hospital in the Bay Area, CA. I cared for older adult patients undergoing aggressive surgeries for cancer recurrence, often leaving them more physically unwell than they were prior to surgery. I often wondered if their doctors had discussed the option to prioritize comfort and quality of life instead of another invasive intervention.

While working in the hospital, I witnessed deaths that were chaotic, unprepared for, and traumatizing for loved ones and the medical staff. Intuitively, I knew that death had the opportunity to unfold differently. It was becoming increasingly difficult for me - mentally, emotionally, and spiritually - to serve as a nurse in an environment that seemed to overlook the potential for people to live out their final days in a more peaceful way.

It wasn’t until a major shift in my own life that forced me to re-evaluate who I am and how to best be in service to others. While it was not a physical death that caused this shift, I experienced a deep emotional and spiritual transformation following the death of a life I once knew. Grief and loss became my teachers as I created meaning and discovered renewed purpose during an otherwise dark and difficult time. I knew after this experience that I wanted to help others do the same. 

These experiences led me to hospice nursing and the birth of my Death Doula practice, Awakened Endings. I have cared for people dying from different types of cancer, Alzheimer's dementia, heart failure, lung disease, and neuro-degenerative disease. Caring for the dying has taught me that death is not the enemy, but rather a companion here to teach and guide us throughout our lives.