End of Life Care with Anastasia Hernandez

From a young age, Anastasia became interested in working with people at their end of life. Her mother, a volunteer at the local extended-care facility, would often bring clients home for Christmas dinner, birthdays, and other occasions. These interactions made a lasting impression on Anastasia as a child, fostering a profound respect for life and the value of our interactions with one another.

Anastasia trained as an end-of-life doula in British Columbia, Canada. She has a passion for participating in end-of-life care and was prompted to step into this role officially after experiencing the polar opposite dynamics at her stepfather and biological father’s passings. Her approach to this vocation is shaped by her experience with intercessory prayer and energy healing. She is also the spouse of a Near-Death Experiencer for the past 14 years, and co-host of the local IANDS Chapter for the past 5 years.

Anastasia is committed to supporting the integration of the needs and sacred role of the dying in society, and facilitating the transition for her clients. Dame Cicely Saunders, founder of St. Christopher’s Hospice and a pioneer of end-of-life care in the West sums up the demands of this work, “Watch with me”, the real work is not ours at all.

The Last Time

Marie Howe

The last time we had dinner together in a restaurant

with white tablecloths, he leaned forward

and took my two hands in his hands and said,

I’m going to die soon. I want you to know that.

And I said, I think I do know.

And he said, What surprises me is that you don’t.

And I said, I do. And he said, What?

And I said, Know that you’re going to die.

And he said, No, I mean know that you are.