Finding Harmony: Balancing Professional Care with Personal Caregiving Responsibilities
From a young age, Christine Soza found herself caring for her ailing grandfather, who had suffered multiple strokes, and later for an elderly woman named Harriet who had dementia. These early experiences shaped Christine's natural inclination towards caregiving and her decision to become a certified nurse's assistant (CNA) in her late teens.
Christine's compassionate nature and genuine care for older adults shines through as she recounts her time working in a nursing home and then transitioning into the medical field, including roles in oncology and AIDS care. Her ability to provide tender, dignified care to her patients, even in the face of difficult circumstances, is a testament to her character. Christine's empathy and care for others are the hallmarks of an exceptional caregiver, qualities that are often more valuable than technical skills.
Christine shares the challenges of balancing her professional caregiving responsibilities with her personal life, including caring for her aging parents and her husband's family members. Her story highlights the emotional toll of caregiving and the importance of self-care, as she ultimately faced her own health issues due to the strain. Christine's resilience and the lessons she has learned along the way serve as a powerful example for other caregivers.
About Christine:
Christine Soza is an End-of-Life Doula and Medical Reiki Practitioner. She is the founder of True North Awakening, who is passionate about supporting people at any stage in life but is especially called to be of service for those navigating their end-of-life experience. She considers herself a guide for the terminally ill and their loved ones, helping to reduce fear and walk beside them on this sacred journey.
She has cared for hundreds of people at the end of life as an experienced nurse and considers it to be the highest honor to hold space, providing tender care to comfort the dying, while empowering and supporting their loved ones during this difficult time. Death is a natural occurrence, one that we will all face someday and helping to create a meaningful death plan, supporting personal autonomy and providing guidance can allow for a much softer landing.
Christine is also a Medical Reiki Master that specializes in providing support with this gentle Integrative therapy in the hospice setting, supporting people with medical needs or anyone on their healing journey. This non-invasive therapy is highly effective in promoting deep relaxation and stress reduction and has been reported to reduce anxiety, improved sleep, and pain. Research studies are providing evidence that Reiki in the medical setting provides physiological benefits including reducing blood pressure, heart rate and respiration rate. Reiki is available in many large medical centers and hospices across the country and would encourage anyone to ask for a Reiki practitioner for extra support.
Death is not a medical experience; it is a human experience, and the gift of presence is the best medicine. Christine loves spending time with her husband, family and friends. She loves a good book and spending time outdoors, preferably up in the mountains, listening to the wind. You can find her soaking in the hot springs of southern Idaho or sitting by a mountain lake similar to the one she grew up in northerm Idaho. Her wish is that everyone can find peace and solitude in nature and experience the silence between the snowflakes just once in their life. Nature is so healing for the body, mind and spirit.