Hello. I was drawn to becoming a Doula after being with my sister from her terminal diagnosis through to her death. It taught me that life can be lived until the final breath. I understood that sometimes, just to have someone there, can be enough. At other times, being practical and helping with end of life planning or planning your funeral is needed, or just sorting out the shopping, or making a cup of tea is enough. Sometimes, being able to talk about fears, regrets or fury and other emotions with someone outside of the family is useful. Cathartic. Comforting. Relieving. Someone who can hold the space. Someone that doesn’t judge.I volunteer in a hospice and have done since 2019. I see the love, compassion, tenderness and calm practicality at work, and how it helps and soothes the patients. I can bring that to you. At your home or in a hospice. I also work with your loved ones – family or friends, helping you all with the challenges that present themselves at the end of life and afterwards.A doula can help you emotionally, spiritually and practically. I have always believed that no-one should die alone, unless they choose to. Your choices will be respected.As a Doula in Training I am ready to help anyone within the South Beds, North Bucks, North Herts area. I live in Leighton Buzzard, so anywhere within a 45 min drive is ok. If you think I can help you, please contact me.
Ann Kempster
End of Life Doula in Training
To make contact with a doula, please fill out our Contact form
More about me
-
We first met Ann shortly after our Dad received a terminal cancer diagnosis. We found her very warm and approachable which straight away helped us feel at ease. After our initial meeting with Ann we introduced her to our Dad and could see straight away that she would be such an important part of the situation we found ourselves in. She would visit Dad while we were at work which put our minds at rest knowing he wasn't alone. He looked forward to her visits very much. When Dad passed away Ann was there to offer us support and words of comfort which we will be forever grateful for. Ann came into our lives at exactly the right time and she really was one of the kindest , most compassionate people we had ever met and would recommend her in a heartbeat to anybody that finds themselves in a difficult situation
-
Ann came in to our lives on recommendation by my daughter in law who had engaged the support of a birthing doula for my 2nd grandchild. Our dear mum was contemplating the end of her life from cancer. Mum being a stoic and traditional lady was trepidatious as to needing Ann in her life. Ann gently and humbly met with our mum, finding common ground to form a friendship. Woven into that companionship as mum got to trust and accept Ann as a friend came the support and comfort around the inevitable end mum was facing.They spent many hours laughing and mum thrashing Ann at cards. Mum had periods of being very sick and Ann was on hand to guide and support us all through what to expect. Ann was able to have those difficult conversations around mum’s illness and wishes that we would struggle to have as daughters.Ann became part of the family and also provided a valuable lifeline to the live in and visiting carers mum had at home.The services of End of life doulas are little known and I hope their profile can be raised. I don’t know how we would have coped without Ann by our side and as the months went on - yes our mum defied her prognosis - mum cared for Ann as a good friend.If I needed to sum it up in a sentence - “having Ann come into our lives was like an Angel sent.”Thank you Ann 🙏
-
Preparing for death can be an extremely frightening and isolating experience and I certainly felt like I had the weight of the world on my shoulders as my mum entered the later stage of Lewy Bodies Dementia.Ann came into our lives with an incredible light and continuously held space for us so that I could figure out a way forward that was right for Mums needs… and mine. Not an easy task with all the cognitive difficulties that Lewy Bodies Dementia brings with it.Ann offered practical advice and support as necessary but was also incredibly wise and empathetic when it came to ‘issues of the heart’. She found a way to bond with Mum, she was always highly communicative and flexible and her responses to my many weird and wonderful questions were always well considered and thorough.I can honestly say that Ann has totally transformed my view of death and her help was invaluable in me believing that I could help Mum have a good death… which she did.