We were lucky to catch up with Morgan Everitt recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Morgan thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. If you had a defining moment that you feel really changed the trajectory of your career, we’d love to hear the story and details.

Back in 2015, I was a working actor in NYC, constantly running to auditions and waiting for news from my agent, when my mother became terminally ill. Being involved in her caretaking, and at her bedside when she passed, changed the entire trajectory of my life. While I had done lots of caregiving before, this was the first time I became intimately aware of what the end of life looked like, and how we treat it as a culture. I noticed that healthcare personnel were stretched thin and often didn’t have the time to sit with my mother and really listen. This lit a fire within me to learn how I can bring humanity back into the death and dying process for those going through this experience in the future. As soon as I heard someone mention “death doula” (another term used for end-of-life doula) I knew that was exactly what I was being called to do.
While I am still in love with acting and continue to pursue it, my work as an end-of-life doula has expanded my life and worldview in so many ways. I never would have imagined I would find something I loved just as much as acting, but here I am! Helping to ease fear and anxiety during the dying process is an absolute honor, and I can’t imagine my life without it.

Morgan , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

In 2016 when my mom was on hospice, a nurse came to our house for a visit. At the time, my mother was only able to communicate extremely slowly. I noticed the nurse did not seem to have time to engage with my mom, and instead was speaking over her, to the other side of the bed where my dad stood. I immediately knew that I wanted to devote myself to helping the dying feel seen, heard, and understood at all times, and so I became an end-of-life doula.

As an end-of-life doula, I provide practical, emotional, and spiritual support to the dying and their loved ones. It is uniquely tailored to each individual case, but some of my services include:

Respite care, which provides the client with physical and emotional support, while the caregiver is able to have time to themselves.
Running errands, helping around the house, and easing general overwhelm.
Helping clients articulate and document their end of life priorities and wishes.
Recording memories and life stories to be passed down to future generations.
Providing resources and education so that you feel empowered to make your own decisions.
Facilitating open and honest conversation among the client, family, loved ones, and health care teams.

The core values of sensitivity and respect guide every aspect of my approach. The medical system is often stretched incredibly thin, and my practice, Heron’s Flight, provides a solution to this growing problem.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

There is a lot of resilience required when it comes to becoming an end-of-life doula. The actual work aside, there is a huge need for education and spreading the word. I hadn’t realized how much time I would need to devote to this aspect! Educating people on death and dying, while not my main focus, is very rewarding and often leads to wonderful conversation and insights. It takes a lot of determination to spread the word about something that people often avoid talking about.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I always emphasize to caregivers that they need to take care of themselves, and find ways to rest and relax. It is when we take care of ourselves that we are able to show up as our best caregiver-self. However, I forgot that applied to me too! Early on, I had a client I was determined to stay side by side with, as she had so much agitation and anxiety. After she passed, I got extremely sick because I hadn’t been eating or sleeping nearly enough. I was unable to do anything for two full days afterwards. Now I know that I can still be of service, while also making sure to include some moments to make sure my own needs are met. This allows me to be a more grounded and patient presence, and gives me stamina in order to help the family afterwards.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.heronsflightdoula.com
• Instagram: @heronsflightdoula
• Facebook: Heron’s Flight
• Linkedin: Heron’s Flight, Morgan’s End of Life Doula Service

Image Credits
all personal photos