I am a licensed massage therapist and certified end-of-life doula based in Anchorage, Alaska as well as the founder and sole practitioner of the Alaska Palliative Massage Initiative. I offer in-home and facility-based massage therapy for senior citizens, individuals with life-limiting illnesses, and those at the end of life, as well as their caregivers. As the only therapist in Anchorage specializing in touch-based support for this underserved demographic, I’m deeply committed to bringing comfort, connection, and peace to individuals and families during life’s most challenging transitions.

My Journey

My work is deeply rooted in personal experience. In 2020, I became the primary caregiver for my mother after she was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. I was with her for a total of 6 months from diagnosis to death. Guiding her through her final days reshaped everything I thought I knew about living, dying, and caring. While she was able to die at home, she was in a tremendous amount of pain. So much so that other than holding her hand, I was unable to touch her. The morning she died, I was on my way to take a shower when I was hit with the overwhelming urge to crawl into her bed and hold her. This was the first time I had been able to hold her in this way since before her diagnosis. Four minutes later, she took her last breath, a moment that changed me forever. It was in that moment that my calling to care for those at the end of life was awakened. It was as I was assisting the hospice nurse that I realized that I was not “too soft” for this kind of work, but that my empathy, gentleness, and presence were exactly what was needed to provide comfort and care during life’s most sacred transition.

Since my mother’s passing, I’ve volunteered as a hospice companion, began serving on the board of a local nonprofit that empowers Alaskans to make informed choices at the end of life, and completed a death doula certification through the International Doulagivers Institute. These experiences have deepened my understanding of the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of senior citizens, individuals, and families during this time.

My Mission

Through AKPMI, I aim to restore the healing power of touch for senior citizens, individuals navigating complex medical conditions, life-limiting illnesses, and end-of-life care. Whether I’m providing palliative massage, offering emotional support, or simply holding space, my goal is to bring comfort, dignity, and a sense of peace to those in the later stages of life and their caregivers.

Why I Do This Work

Touch is a fundamental human need, yet for many senior citizens and individuals in medical or end-of-life care, it becomes clinical and impersonal. I believe that compassionate touch can transform lives, alleviating pain, reducing anxiety, and fostering connection. It’s an honor to walk beside individuals and families during this sacred time, and I carry each story with me in the work that I do.

I’d love to work with you

I’m passionate about creating a community where no one faces illness, isolation, or grief without the healing power of touch. If you or a loved one, whether an elder or someone navigating a life-limiting illness, could benefit from my services, or if you’d like to support AKPMI’s mission, I’d love to hear from you.