VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT
Five +1 Questions with Kelly Eriksen
1. Why did you decide to volunteer with EOLCCA?
I work very closely with hospices in my daily work and I’m in constant awe of the work that they do. About two years ago, a good friend of mine, Sabrina, who is a hospice nurse and long-time volunteer with EOLCCA was telling me about the organization and said “You have a ton of experience with end-of-life care — you’d be perfect supporting clients who are taking the MAiD medication.”
So, I went to the volunteer trainings and decided to give it a go.
2. What Volunteer Activities do you do with EOLCCA?
I’m primarily what the organization calls a “day of death” volunteer, meaning I’m there with the client on the day they are taking the MAiD medication. My first “DOD” was a couple months after I completed the training and I joined Sabrina as a trainee. It was at night (which is a little unusual as I’ve learned), and about a 45 minute drive. I thought to myself that I’d try it this once and if nothing else, would be a good learning experience for me.
I went in mentally believing this would be a heart-wrenching, solemn and sad affair. I was astonished to experience laughter, gratitude, compassion, and above all an overwhelming feeling of heartfelt mercy. I stayed awake that night trying to understand how such an occasion could feel and be so overwhelmingly positive. From there, I decided I would continue supporting this work in the little time I had. I’ve now been a part of eight uniquely beautiful days of ingestion.
3. What’s been most rewarding about your volunteer experience?
Some of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen in all of my life and in all of my travels have been here with EOLCCA. Perfect strangers to me in an unfamiliar home, cuddled up with someone they love most in the world, sending them off by honoring that individual’s wishes to live, and die, in the way that they saw fit.
4. Can you share a particularly moving experience?
I recall one family — 8 family members bedside for the patriarch of their family. An elderly wife, grown children, teenaged grandchildren all snuggled in and around a twin-sized bed, pre and post ingestion, sharing their final goodbyes. This was a family that had zero experience with hospice or any form of end-of-life care, but fortunately they found EOLCCA. I got to be there for them and although it was only a couple of hours, it was clear that without my presence, they would have been overwhelmed with worry and concern, monitoring, wondering and overanalyzing each breath.
I was able to help set their minds at ease and allow them to focus on their emotions and goodbyes. After he took the medication, I was a fly on the wall attempting to keep myself available but as invisible as possible. But I couldn’t help but to see the incredible, love, strength, and resolve from the patriarch on down to the teenagers. Incredible experience. I was honored to be a small part of it.
5. Professionally, you own a home health business so you are familiar with end-of-life care. How has this work impacted your professional work?
Volunteering with EOLCCA has given me a better grip and understanding of all aspects of care, life, and the inevitable transitional process that we will all face someday.
I often say that the work we do with care isn’t a job or career – rather, it’s one giant sociological experiment. We see all different types of folks and all types of personalities and situations. As consistent as care must be in so many aspects, everyone is their own unique individual with individual life experiences, personalities, and families. Volunteering with EOLCCA has helped me to learn and understand many more aspects that I otherwise would not have the privilege to experience.
6. Outside of EOLCCA, tell us a little about yourself?
My full name is Kelly Chien Eriksen – my mother is Chinese and my father is Danish, and yet, somehow, I am mostly Irish. (emoji insert) I was adopted at birth and raised in Petaluma, CA. I am married to my wife and best friend and business partner, Kisa. We have three beautiful children. I coach their soccer teams in years that I am overzealous and oblivious to my demanding work and home schedules.
We operate three small care facilities working closely with clients with varying levels of cognitive diagnoses. We are very proud of the work that we do and the caring environment we create. EOLCCA has given me the opportunity to work with those without cognitive struggle – in the most intimate of settings. It truly has been an honor to assist these folks and families – to be present for them, and assist and guide them through this final chapter of life they have worked so hard for.