November 2026 | Newsletter

November 2026  

Dear One,

I remember standing in the ocean as a little girl, with my cousin Marcela right behind me.

We were at the beach, at this private club where our families spent so much of our childhood together. I was still learning to stand against the waves, and Marcela, who was taller than me (as a lot of people still are), would position herself behind me. Whenever a wave was too strong, she would turn around and let it hit her back instead of mine. She always took care of me; she was so motherly.

I hadn't thought about that memory in years. 

Marcela was my cousin, but we grew up as sisters. Our mothers were sisters, our fathers were brothers, and our families shared practically everything. She and my sister Kelly were born just weeks apart. They went to school together, danced together, and grew up alongside one another. 

Kelly was always moving, dancing, playing sports, finding something new to do, sell, or exchange. She was a businesswoman since we were little, hyperactive and full of energy, but also incredibly protective. 

I remember being bullied by a classmate in eighth grade. As the youngest of three sisters, I had always been spoiled and cared for. I didn't know how to defend myself because I'd never really needed to.

I walked toward Kelly's classroom, where she was in tenth grade. She saw me from the other end of an open hallway and started walking toward me. I began crying as we got closer. She opened her arms and kept them open until we reached each other.

She hugged me and asked what was happening. I could barely explain through my tears. "Whatever it is, I'll take care of it. Don't worry. Everything is going to be okay," she said while holding me.

And she did take care of it. She always did.

This year, I lost both of them. 

 With gratitude, Cesiah.

Music Playlist

Take a breath.
Let the music hold you for a moment.

We're always tending to our community playlist — not just us, but our graduates, our team, and our wider circle. When a song speaks to someone's heart, we add it.

Do you have a song that meets you in the contemplation of mortality, grief, or the full circle of life?

We'd love to listen with you.

Upcoming Events

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November 2026

December 2026

January 2027

Community Spotlight

Wendy Longacre Brown is  a certified end-of-life doula (INELDA, NEDA) serving individuals and families in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Her work centers on presence, listening, education, and honoring each person's values and choices at the end of life. She has supported individuals and families in collaboration with hospice teams and is a co-founding member of the Minnesota Death Collaborative. Her work is also deeply personal. She served as the end-of-life doula for her mother, Cheryl Hauser, who chose VSED (Voluntarily Stopping Eating and Drinking) after developing Alzheimer's disease. Her family's experience has been featured in the Minneapolis Star Tribune, MPR News, PBS, KSTP, and other media, raising public awareness of VSED. She is a co-producer of The Cheryl Hauser Effect, a short documentary currently in production about her mother's journey, and regularly speaks with local and out-of-state communities about end-of-life options, VSED, and the importance of informed choice.

    For more information, visit:

CHEMIN

A Message from Wendy: My hope is for more people to understand VSED (Voluntarily Stopping Eating and Drinking) as an end-of-life option and feel more comfortable having honest, informed conversations about dying, autonomy, and choice, long before they find themselves in a crisis. Supporting my mother, Cheryl Hauser, through her decision to choose VSED after developing Alzheimer's disease was one of the most profound experiences of my life. She wanted her story to help others facing similar circumstances feel less alone and approach end-of-life decisions with greater understanding and less fear. Through The Cheryl Hauser Effect, my sister, Sarah Longacre, and I are working to fulfill that wish by sharing Cheryl's journey alongside perspectives from medical, hospice, and other end-of-life professionals. We envision the film as a freely available educational resource for families, caregivers, healthcare professionals, and others seeking to better understand VSED. I'd also love to share an upcoming virtual event, A Conversation About VSED, on Tuesday, November 10, from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. PT. The event will feature clips from The Cheryl Hauser Effect, followed by a conversation moderated by Wendy Norman, founder of Known Wishes, with Dr. Hope Wechkin, Director of Evergreen Hospice/Palliative Care, and Cheryl's daughters, Sarah Longacre, a birth doula, and me. Together, we'll explore Cheryl's story, the film, and what her experience can teach us about autonomy, choice, and end-of-life care. The gathering will include an opportunity for questions and is intended for anyone interested in learning more about VSED and having more informed conversations about end-of-life options.

Use this link to the event: https://www.eventcreate.com/e/the-cheryl-hauser-effect-virtual-event

Let's Connect!

info@consciousdyingcollective.com  |  303-440-8018