About Us

A Note from Rebecca Wallace, Author: From One End-of-Life Professional to Another

 

For more than twenty years, I’ve walked alongside people at the edge of life—supporting patients and families as they navigate the heartbreak and beauty of the end. My work has taken many forms: oncology social worker, hospice social worker, bereavement coordinator, trauma and grief specialist, and assistant hospice director. But no matter the title, I kept encountering the familiar look in caregivers’ eyes: anticipatory grief, quiet panic, the exhaustion of trying to hold it all together.

Time and again, I saw caregivers overwhelmed, not just by the emotional toll, but by the lack of helpful resources to guide them through the dying process. The need for more supportive and inviting education materials was clear. There had to be a better way to support caregivers and the professionals who walk beside them.

Nature Gave Us Butterflies was born out of this need, though not overnight.

The industry standard booklet we handed out—designed to explain the dying process—was rarely opened. Tucked away in the admission folder, it sat unread, collecting dust. I began asking why. The answers were obvious once I looked closely: the language lacked warmth, the design was uninviting, and the tone was distant. It didn’t feel like a companion in a difficult moment.

So, I made a list—a better design, a more human voice, a softer delivery of the message, and organized sections that made teaching at the bedside easier. My list of ideas for the booklet sat in my drawer for nine years because working in hospice didn't leave much time for me to get in touch with my creative side. 

And then, slowly, in the quiet hours outside my day job, I began to build what I had once only imagined: a booklet that felt like a hospice worker sitting gently at the bedside, guiding a caregiver with warmth, clarity, and compassion. I used the power of metaphor to offer not just information, but solace—to help overwhelmed families both understand and feel understood.

In April 2016, I launched a simple website with a single product and mailed samples to hospices across the country. I had no idea what would happen; I just knew I had to take the risk and release the booklet.

We nearly sold out of our first printing.

Since then, the response from the end-of-life community has been deeply humbling. Our work has expanded to include new booklets and tools that reinforce the heart of hospice care: presence, compassion, and support. My signature style—using generative metaphor and a therapeutic voice—has resonated with healthcare and mental health professionals across the U.S. and Canada.

When I’m not writing, you’ll likely find me curled up by the fireplace with a book and a strong espresso, hiking through the woods with my husband and a camera, or heading to the mountains to spend time with my grown children—every chance I get.

 If you have suggestions for topics or materials, please drop me a line! I love hearing from end-of-life providers and caregivers. I write for you. Let me know what's on your mind.