Pagosa’s own Dr. Pamela Kircher, M.D., will facilitate a discussion of near-death experiences at our next End of Life Education program at 1 p.m. on May 15.
End of Life Education meets the third Thursday of the month at the Community United Methodist Church at 434 Lewis Street. Use the convenient parking lot with the side entrance into the kitchen and fellowship hall (the main doors into the church will remain locked).
The program will begin at 1 p.m. with time for visiting, coffee, tea and treats, if people bring something to share. It was decided that the official program should end around 2:30 to 3 p.m., but people can remain in the fellowship hall for socializing, discussions, support, etc. until 4 p.m.
Our programs are free, but people attending can bring canned food for the church pantry or make a cash donation in appreciation for using the room. Attendance varies for each program, so feel welcome to come anytime and bring friends.
Kircher will facilitate our next meeting on Thursday, May 15. She is a retired family practice and hospice doctor. Her childhood near-death experience influenced her choices and values throughout her life.
Her book, “Love is the Link: A Hospice Doctor Shares Her Experience of Near-Death and Dying,” tells her own experiences as well as some of the experiences of her patients and their families. Our open discussion will give us a chance to share our own near-death and related experiences.
We will decide toward the end of our discussion on May 15 if we will continue with more sharing on June 19. Such a topic as near-death experiences certainly warrants more time, but we will wait for the decision of the participants.
This June or July, End of Life Education will be completing the presentations for 2025 by helping people fill out the paperwork for the end of life that is given in the booklet “Your Right to Make Healthcare Decisions.”
Federal law requires that you must be given information on advance directives at the time you are admitted by any hospital, nursing home, HMO, hospice, home health care or personal care program that receives federal funds (Medicare). We have used this booklet as part of our program so people can get a heads up on the paperwork rather than waiting until a more stressful time. There is also a form to fill out about resuscitation that is important to have completed and left on your refrigerator. There will be an article in the SUN newspaper announcing the date and time to complete these important forms.
