Why I serve as an End-of-Life

REPAIR REGENERATE RENEW

Doulas step in whenever needed and meet clients where they are at the time of terminal illness, diagnosis, or in late life when companionship and support may be needed. We complement care from hospices, hospitals, and funeral homes, and although we do not provide medical support, we may help educate individuals regarding their options.

Serving others as a doula is truly my heart’s work and is deeply rewarding.

I am so fortunate to have completed my doula training and to now work as a doula with The Peaceful Presence Project here in Central Oregon. The Peaceful Presence Project is a nonprofit organization founded by Erin Collins, Elizabeth Johnson, and Kari Sims that strives to reimagine the way communities talk about, plan for and experience serious illness and the last stage of life. They are actively cultivating a Compassionate Communities Model of Care in the United States and are improving death literacy to improve end-oflife experiences for all.

-Mary Elizabeth Reiss, Sunset Sherpa thepeacefulpresenceproject.org

ather Sauna House is a Baltic style, traditional wood-fired mobile sauna business established in 2019. This mobile concept is used in the heart of nature where traditional sauna has always been practiced. Our mission is to help folks reconnect with themselves, their community and nature. We pride ourself on creating custom cozy spaces and experiences of hygge that combine traditional wood fired sauna & thermal contrast therapy. It all began with a hand-built sauna created by a local husband and wife, Halina Kowalski-Thompson and Dorian Thompson, within a vintage horse trailer clad with locally-sourced western cedar and Juniper. Gather provides unforgettable, traditional bathing experiences through community pop-up events with local businesses & private rentals, plus custom sauna builds. Gather plans to expand to a permanent “Sauna Village” in Central Oregon with an outdoor charm and cozy atmosphere.

At the heart of each sauna built is a wood-burning stove that produces an exceptionally soft, even, deeply penetrating heat that emits stress reducing negative ions. The steam or “Loyly” (in Finnish) produced from throwing water on the rocks has added health and relaxation benefits as well.

Gather Sauna House teaches traditional healing methods including thermal contrast therapy, a regimen of exposing the body to hot-cold-rest-rehydration cycles for the ultimate holistic health boost. Research shows it increases immunity, reduces inflammation, improves cardiovascular functioning, decreases pain, improves sleep, regulates the nervous system & boosts metabolism. Gather Sauna House is available to the community through monthly community sauna pop-up events and private hosted rentals.