So, everyone has the same question for me…”What made you go into this? Have you always done this?” Well, there is a story. So make yourself a cup of tea and get comfy.
The Diagnosis
In the gloomy late winter days of 2009 my father was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer. He was an otherwise very healthy and active 84 year old. The news, for me, was profoundly devastating. The mere thought of losing Daddy was more than I could take. We were told that without treatment he would have about 3 months, with treatment 6-9 months. The oncologist did not really recommend treatment as it could be very taxing at his age. This, however, did not sit well with my father; he had a whole different approach. You see, he decided he was not ready to die and he would be cured! So…we went with that. He would not leave the oncology office without an appointment to start chemotherapy treatments.
Daddy became the superstar of the oncology practice. He tolerated every form of chemo thrown at him for 5 years with very little side effect. They said he was one for the record books. They were surprised, I was not. You had to know him to understand. Daddy was a very quiet, caring and compassionate man. Very introspective, I would say. More spiritually powerful than any of us could ever have imagined.
Over the course of these 5 years, I spent a good deal of time traveling between my home in Pennsylvania and my parents home in North Carolina. I knew every minute, every hour, every day, every week spent was important to us. Here is where owning my own business became such a blessing. I could take as much time as needed and my dear clients always understood. Funny how the universe makes sure you have what you need.
The Final Journey
Now, let’s fast forward 5 years to 2014. My January visit to my parents home was one of realizing this was the year daddy would grow tired and lose this battle. The coming months would show the wear and tear on his physical being. It was not until he suffered a major stroke in early August that my journey truly started. (For me anyway, others will say it started years ago). I rushed to North Carolina on the prayer that I would get there before he passed. Thankfully, I had the chance to tell him my thoughts in hopes that he would pass without worry.
When he was still with us the next day, we were told to arrange for transfer to a local hospice house as it would just be a matter of days now. Fortunately, Crystal Coast Hospice had a room for him to spend his final days. That evening, after the transfer to Hospice, I asked my Mother if she would be okay if I had a Reiki session with Daddy. She gave me her complete blessing even though she truly had no idea what Reiki was or how it worked. I was brand new to Reiki having just received my first Attunement earlier that year.
To be truthful, I wasn’t even sure why I had taken the Reiki class. But anyway, the following morning I spent an hour holding space in Reiki Energy hoping to help ease Daddy’s passing. This is the crazy part…the following morning he woke up and asked for chocolate pudding. No kidding! I know! We had been told there was no brain activity what so ever and death was imminent! My father spent 9 more weeks with us. He drifted in and out of alertness but I am sure he knew everything that was going on around him.
In that 9 weeks, he set things in motion. Due to a series of communication issues we decided to dismiss my parent’s minister from his commitment to preside over my father’s memorial service. In the meantime, I met the priest from the Episcopal Church that my sister attends. Let’s just say, he is not your average priest. On our first meeting I sensed something different. Not priestly, just different. It was not until he lovingly agreed to preside over my dad’s memorial service and we released my parents minister of his obligation that my father quietly passed. Coincidence…I think not.
The Turning Point
It was on November 1, 2014 (All Saints Day) that we held Daddy’s Memorial Service followed by the spreading of his ashes at sea. So many remarkable things happened that day. (I will save those details for another day) But for me, the turning point was a conversation with this warm and caring priest. As we spoke about ourselves, he mentioned that he was a Reiki Master. That… that was what I saw the first day we met!! That love and light which was unexplainable until now. We went on to talk about our paths and our journeys. He mentioned a friend who was his Reiki Master/Teacher as well and an Angel Healing Practitioner/Teacher.
I knew that this conversation was the reason Daddy had stayed with us. I also immediately knew I had to meet this person…that whatever she had to share I needed to learn. And so I did, in the Fall of 2015 I attended a weekend workshop that led me on my path as a Lightworker. The rest, as they say, is history. My journey had begun. I am convinced that my father stayed those 9 weeks to set my true path into motion. Had he realized during that Reiki Session that I needed a push to move into my light? Possibly. I see this series of events as his parting gift to me. For that I am forever grateful.
Much love and thanks to my dad (Clarence Muldowney) for setting me in motion. And to Rev. Everett Thomas, Ph.D, and Kathryn Hudson RMT/ATP for being my wings.
