Marilyn is a trauma counsellor who works with migrant and refugee families. She feels that healing and strength come from talking about painful things. Death was part of her environment growing up, something she attributes to her mother whose stories were all imbued with death. Marilyn's mother, who lived in Malaysia, prepared for her death. When she had a massive stroke that left her in a vegetative state, it became Marilyn’s responsibility after twelve days to remove her oxygen mask. She describes her mother’s peaceful final hours and her decision as heart-wrenching but right.
Marilyn also shares her own experience of death when she suffered massive blood loss in giving birth to her daughter Jesse. She describes her loss of consciousness and momentarily of life as one of the most beautiful experiences she will ever have, and clearly remembers her decision to return to life for her newborn child. She feels this experience has changed the way she thinks about dying and also made her more appreciative of life and living.