Board of
Directors
President:
Jim Marshall
Secretary:
Financial Officer: Suzanne Wouk |
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Board
Members
Jackie Fitzhenry
Jeremy Griffey
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Medical
Advisors:
Arnold Leff, M.D.
Ralph Potkin, M.D.
Joshua Schiffman, M.D. |
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Advisors:
Ram Dass
Michael Corral
Suzanne Pfeil |
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Executive
Director:
Valerie Leveroni Corral |
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Raha Kudo:
Design for Dying Project
Non-profit 501(c) Corporation
20-4251364
Mailing Address:
849 Almar Street #C317
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Phone: 831.425-0423
ask@rahakudo.org
rahakudo.org |
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Valerie Leveroni
Corral on:
A home care experience
I had completed the
four-month vigil at
the Santa Cruz home of my beloved friend.“L” was a single mother of
a 16-year-old girl. More than 30 volunteers organized as a team to
meet the ongoing needs that facing death requires. On a summer
morning, “L” died peacefully.
I had prepared her
body for honoring;
washing, anointing and dressing her.
I was grateful for many things. I was
grateful that we could carry out her wish
to die at home surrounded by family and friends. I was grateful that
her daughter’s loving touch and last utterance of love hung in the
room as the thread to carry “L” into what lay beyond.
After some time a
hospice worker arrived, she stood quietly looking at L’s adorned
body, cloaked in red silk, haloed by flowers, candles burning.
After a long
silence, she spoke, “I haven’t seen anything like this since I was
in India.This is beautiful.” |

Since 1993 at our collective,
Wo/Men’s Alliance for Medical Marijuana
(WAMM, www.wamm.org),
we have
witnessed the death of at least one
member a month from terminal illness.
Some of our patients were alone and
without resources. In these cases, and
whenever asked, other WAMM members
organized into caregiver teams
to help our friends greet death with as
comfortable and noble a transition as
possible.
We have designed Raha Kudo, meaning
the pathway to heaven, as a comprehensive
501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Our extraordinary approach combines
all aspects of care and support
within a loving environment.
Information gained is organized and
presented for the enrichment of the dying,
their loved ones and for the benefit
of others and our caregivers.
Our mission sets Raha Kudo apart
from other human service organizations.
Our dedication to education and research
is crucial in developing a depth
of care and understanding essential in
the exploration of alternatives during
death’s journey.
HELP US...
HELP YOU...
Our aim at Raha Kudo, Design for
Dying Project is to offer help when
death approaches, assisting in all aspects
that may arise; providing a
personalized model of support, including
organizing schedules, 24-hour care,
and identifying and sharing the balance
of tasks.
Raha Kudo is made up of a sensitive,
compassionate team to fill in the gaps
of care as needed.
We see ourselves as midwives to the
dying, extending a choice for deinstitutionalization
at this critical time of
life, helping people stay in their own
homes as they prepare for what lay
beyond. |
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September 13, 2008
Bruce G. Lee presented:
Freedom to Care® Workshop
All 26 people in attendance were delighted with the new
skills we acquired to deal with stress around care giving.
Thanks very much to Bruce
G. Lee.
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