GTBrabec Pregnancy and Infant Loss Blog

Giving Back as a Doula

8/31/2019

Earlier this year, I heard that Sutter Medical Center in Sacramento was starting a volunteer doula program. I was notified and encouraged by a few of my friends to apply. It was a great opportunity to gain experience and give back to the hospital Olivia is connected to. Olivia was born at the Sutter Memorial Hospital before it was closed and they moved into the new hospital now called Sutter Medical Center. Many of the staff and physicians that delivered and treated Olivia, are still there. We have remained in touch and have been back to donate comfort kits and deliver copies of a book I had contributed to the staff. So the idea to possibly serve alongside them, whether directly, or indirectly was something I would be very proud to be a part of.

For whatever reason, I wasn’t able to apply. I was slightly disappointed, however, I felt the timing wasn’t right. I left it at that. If there was another opportunity, then I would consider it at that time. Well, that time came. A few weeks ago, I received an email stating that Sutter’s doula program was a success and they were looking to expand. They wanted to know if I was still interested and if I would apply. Well, of course, I said YES! That set in motion for me to apply and a little while later was called in for an interview. I picked the first available interview time slot because in the back of my mind I felt employers often remember well the very first interview of the day. So 8:30am it was even though getting there was right in the middle of morning traffic. I got there in time even with a bit of walking to find the location of the interviews.

I was called in and was rather surprised to see that there were seven nurses and doulas sitting around a small table that would be apart of my interview. Surprisingly, I didn’t feel nervous. Maybe it was because this was volunteer position and not a paid one so there wasn’t any financial pressure that way. I definitely believe prayers from my family were felt and answered. I also believe that our story and that I truly feel called to this work would speak for itself. I sat down and I was asked to share about myself. Well, I shared. And from the wide-eyed looks of their faces and the amount of head nodding indicated that the answer I gave was more than what they were expecting. By the end of the interview, I felt like I was chatting with dear colleagues and friends. I left and hoped that I would be seeing them again soon and prayed we would be working together as a team.

A little over a week later, I received a call from Sutter saying they wanted me to join their doula team. I immediately said, YES! So I am beginning my volunteer doula position this fall. Right now, we are in the process of obtaining the necessary paperwork to complete my application. I have an orientation later in September with training taking place in early October. The days before and after Olivia’s 6th birthday will be at Sutter training how to support other families in their birth story. I honestly can’t think of a better way to honor and celebrate her birthday.

My time commitment for this is really only a couple times a month and I will be able to know ahead of time my schedule. I will start out doing night shift at the hospital. Prayer would be appreciated as I haven’t done an “all-nighter” since college. Regardless, I am so honored and grateful for this opportunity. It appears that God is opening doors for us we never would have imagined. Please pray for Geoff and I as we step out in faith and see where God will lead us.

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Trusting God's Way In God's Time

8/19/2019

3 Comments

Earlier this year, I (Toni) had the privilege of leading and guiding a small group of women through the Grief Recovery Method. It was my pilot group so it my first time leading it. I felt honored for these women to have allowed me into their own personal and sacred journey of grief. It was such a reward to see the participants realize some of the misinformation they were given as a child or previously to deal with losses and disappointments in their life and how they were inhibiting them from moving forward. With the proper tools taught in the Grief Recovery Method, they are now equipped to better deal with grief, loss and other disappointments.

God has placed on our hearts to serve the community by providing support to grieving families. Grief Recovery Method is just one of those ways. We continued to give our desires to the Lord and trust He would provide the opportunities and supply all that is needed to do so. And in ways that we believe could only have been orchestrated by God himself, He has provided us a location with a private office in Roseville. This is a temporary arrangement, however, it is meeting our current need and it was truly only God that could have arranged this space to hold 1on1 as well as group sessions. We will be here until God closes this door or opens another one. We know He will continue to open doors for us for partnerships, and to further reach our community. He already has. Because of this, I now have a client scheduled for one on one meetings. We desire to keep our hearts and minds open to God’s plan, His timing and provision in what we believe has been God’s calling for our lives. Please join us in our prayer request- that God will continue to use us His way and in His time.