A Journal Written by Dr. Louise Coulombe
Artwork created by Aimée Coulombe. Many thanks!
A Journal Written by Dr. Louise Coulombe
Artwork created by Aimée Coulombe. Many thanks!
This journal documents the effectiveness and power of intertwining the tools of science with the art of care to help achieve patients’ wishes to stay at home, where they remain involved in decision-making, living their best possible lives comfortably, surrounded by family and friends until their death.
I dedicate this journal to the patients and families who trusted me to be part of their journeys.
This website is designed to help you explore the journey of near-end-of-life care with clarity and compassion. You’ll find stories, lessons, and reflections drawn from decades of practice, all meant to prepare you for the decisions and emotions that come with this part of life.
Your journey through this site begins with the Must Read chapters below. These are the essential starting point and provide the foundation for everything that follows. Only after reading them should you continue exploring other chapters through the Table of Contents menu, following the themes and stories that resonate most with you.
If you already have an idea of what you’re interested in, feel free to use the Search Bar at the bottom of the Table of Contents menu to search a topic by keyword.
Hierarchy of the Body: The Body’s Natural Path Towards Death – The Function of the Body’s Essential Organs
Hierarchy of the Body: The Body’s Natural Path Towards Death – Objective Observations by Caregivers
“It was interesting reading about Dr Coulombe’s journey and the things that influenced her professional path as a doctor.
The teaching cards give the patient and family a sense of control. I wish I had known about the hierarchy of the body shutting down and the observable breathing patterns near-end-of-life when my dad was dying.
The graphs and images made the information clear and accessible.
I love the ideas of observing and finding elegant solutions.
I believe that more knowledge will help the caregiver and the patient be more realistic and helpful. The patient stories were so detailed and gave a good sense of the journey the families went through as well. It made me realize that dying at home can be a reality if everyone is made aware of the process and is given the medical support they need.”
Janice Barclay
Retired Educational Consultant
“I felt very privileged to have had Dr. Coulombe as my husband’s near-end-of-life doctor.
After reading Dr. Coulombe’s journal entries recounting information about the science of near-end-of-life, I was reassured about my own care decisions. In her knowledgeable and unassuming way, she was able to really understand and respond to her patients and their family’s needs, wishes and goals. This is ‘palliative’ care at its very best!
To me, the main theme throughout Journeys is family education and establishing ‘trust’ with the families of those on this (often) long but always difficult journey towards death.”
Wife of former patient
“I was struck by the consistent theme of humility. The calm tone of the writing and the affirmation of being on the right path resonated with me.
The “elegant solution” is a wonderful way of framing problem-solving. I enjoyed reading these solutions throughout the book and found them relevant for today’s challenges for creative problem-solving.
The triangle tools used for client/caregiver education are wonderful.”
Lorraine Mercer, PhD
