We walked through the guests to the back of the room and went through a door into a smaller but just as beautiful room. But this room had a hospital bed. A nurse was nearby, also nicely dressed, ready to assist as needed. And a man lay in the bed.

I turned to my Guide and said, "What am I doing here?"

"You're here to help them die," he said before I could voice my objection. I didn't know how to do this! I've never done this before! But, the man in the bed appeared to be waiting for me and extended his hand.

​"Thank you so much for coming," he said. I pulled the nearby chair closer to the bed and took his outstretched hand. We sat and talked for a few minutes. He had questions about the process of dying which I answered.

​The LGBTQIA2S+ community has unique challenges when it comes to accessing healthcare and grief support. It's vitally important that a death midwife or end-of-life coach understand these challenges and not only speak the language as a healthcare intermediary, but to truly understand the additional layers of support a member of the rainbowcommunity might encounter.

Melissa's extensive background in both the healthcare and the queer community provides a unique basis on which to draw when it comes to supporting this often under-represented group.

​He indicated he wasn't afraid to die. He was ready. He had arranged the lovely party going on inside the other room, and I would stand and move out of the way as one of his many friends and loved ones came into the room to share a moment with him on his last day here. They'd sit in the chair, hold his hand, share stories, and say their goodbyes.

I made my way out of this side of the duplex and into the other where I found a mirror-image setup of the space I'd just left, this time different people, different music, different vibe, and a different man in the other room. But the core remained the same: Each man was completely surrounded with the love of the people who meant the most to him, feeling fully supported as he crossed over into whatever comes next.

I went back and forth between the rooms, talking to the men as they neared their end here. At the end of my "dream" one man died. The other told me, "I don't think I'm ready to go just yet," and I reassured him that his friends would be there for him whenever he was ready; he was under no obligation to do this today. It was entirely on his own timeframe.

He indicated he wasn't afraid to die. He was ready. He had arranged the lovely party going on inside the other room, and I would stand and move out of the way as one of his many friends and loved ones came into the room to share a moment with him on his last day here. They'd sit in the chair, hold his hand, share stories, and say their goodbyes.

I made my way out of this side of the duplex and into the other where I found a mirror-image setup of the space I'd just left, this time different people, different music, different vibe, and a different man in the other room. But the core remained the same: Each man was completely surrounded with the love of the people who meant the most to him, feeling fully supported as he crossed over into whatever comes next.

I went back and forth between the rooms, talking to the men as they neared their end here. At the end of my "dream" one man died. The other told me, "I don't think I'm ready to go just yet," and I reassured him that his friends would be there for him whenever he was ready; he was under no obligation to do this today. It was entirely on his own timeframe.

​I'm so honored to be able to offer my clients the assistance to claim their power into their death experience and help them create the way they wish to leave this world and transition into the next, whatever that is.

Whether you're actively in the process of that final transition or just want to know more, I'm here to offer you my services. This includes PSYCHOPOMP, the shamanic ability for those of us who can also see and speak to those who've already crossed, with the ability to cross over with you up to a certain point. While this is a function of Shamanism,it is not often a function of a death midwife. I look forward to being your guide and companion into the death process.

Whether you're actively in the process of that final transition or just want to know more, I look forward to help you find the exit that matches how you lived. Our end here doesn't have to look like traditional funerals, wakes, and mourning. We can discuss the options you might have when it's your time to move on and the very large variety of choices available when it comes to crossing into that next adventure. Please check out my socials for more information, or reach out to me using the Contact link above.

Initial consultations are free.

I look forward to talking to you!

~Melissa

More importantly, ​it made me want to change how we die.

In the "dream," my Guide was standing next to my bed and beckoned me to go with him. I got out of bed, and we stepped into another reality. I found myself standing in a beautifully manicured yard in front of a lovely modern duplex. We walked in the front door to find a string quartet playing quietly in the corner as a couple of waitstaff moved through the room offering snacks. A well-stocked bar was in a corner, and there were 15-20 well-dressed individuals milling around, holding drinks, smiling...similar to a nice dinner party. There were soft couches and deep chairs, tables to set your drinks, art on the walls, and plants in every corner. A truly beautiful space.

​Death is the final stop for every living being on earth. It doesn't matter how old, how wealthy, what part of the world we live in, or even our species. Trees, dogs, humans, zebra, your favorite indoor houseplant. ​

We all share that in common: We will die.

I had a dream a few years ago. Not a dream really...my guide invited me to help two men dies. You can hear the details in my vlog entry below. But, that interaction changed my life.​

a Modern Practitioner for Today's World

THE Uncommon Shaman

Let's talk about death.
Yup. I said it.

I completed my End of Life Doula (midwife) certification in 2025 and serve as a  volunteer with the No One Dies Alone (NODA) project through local hospitals as I continue to educate myself in order to further my understanding and ability to serve not only the dead, but those who are entering the transition to the other side. ​