Name: The Grief Doula
Based: Gillingham
Website: www.thegriefdoula.com
My business idea began last April when my daughter died from bowel cancer. Looking for support and guidance was and is difficult to find, and I noticed that there is a distinct lack of facilities for terminally young adults and their parents.
The medical staff are so busy they are unable to stop, talk and answer questions, so families are left feeling bewildered and confused.
No-one should have to go through a terminal illness without support. That’s my dream – to offer support to parents of terminally ill children, from being told its terminal, through to supporting the child through death and the parents afterwards.
Being able to answer their questions, provide support as they go through the emotions of fear, guilt, sadness and anxiety, knowing that their feelings are completely normal.
My work is only just beginning. I was asked to work at my daughter’s burial site as I found my own way to work through my grief. Even though I am still grieving I am able to give others the hope that you can find some positivity, even if very small, in their child’s death. Giving parents and their child the opportunity to talk about death means that everyone has the opportunity to express their wishes and say their goodbyes.
Elisabeth Newton is the founder of The Grief Doula
