Winter 2024 Update:

We are currently fundraising for the next leg of our documentary, which will allow us to document ground breaking changes in several death care communities and even more vital grief resources.

The DMDT team is so grateful for your support. We are fiscally sponsored by SIMA STUDIOS, so your donation is 100% tax deductible.

… and of course we are still always accepting donations for our project as a whole, you can learn more about why you may want to donate below…

What donating to death, me, dying tree means:

This passion project lives at the intersection of social change and artistic creation, and it’s something we see a deep need for in many parts of the United States and world. After death, me, dying tree’s founder Lana Smithner volunteered with hospice in nursing homes and became a death doula, she was heartbroken by the way we are failing our dying elders and, as a society,  missing out on the vibrancy of life due to our collective fear of death. (A death doula acts as a spiritual guide, emotional supporter, and logistical counselor, aiding either the person dying and/or their loved ones with legal forms, arrangements, and all the headaches that come with the funeral industrial complex.) 

Our care for our aging populations is almost nonexistent, and the system as a whole is ignorant to the healthy and positive options available – essentially the system is broken. This is especially apparent as the Covid-19 pandemic rages on. This is why Lana created death, me, dying tree (DMDT). Our main purpose is to spread awareness about healthier death practices in order to deal with the forthcoming crisis of the largest aging population to date, and to transform our country’s suffering around the concept of death into a deeper and more supported understanding of the cycles of life and death.

Why should you care?

Death is the one thing we all must encounter in our lives. At some point you and your loved ones will be faced with difficult decisions (nursing homes, DNRs, funeral arrangements, etc.) and in that moment, there are few systems in place to assist you in this intense transition of life to death. DMDT is a curated series of events, online resources, videos and a future documentary meant to  address this gap. Not only will these resources be available to you, but also by supporting this project you will be helping people in ten different cities release fear of death at  the live events, and at least 50,000 people become aware of the healing and helpful options available in the first year alone. By helping people heal their negative relationship with death, DMDT is creating a wave of change: through word of mouth and our extensive outreach program we plan to empower policy makers, government officials, funeral industry professionals, and as many interested citizens as possible to fix our broken system surrounding death and dying. 

How would your money be spent?

Your donation will be used to pay death care workers and artists around the country for their contributions to death, me, dying tree (death doulas, grief guides, singers, dancers, art therapists, poets, comedians, ceremonialists, rappers, puppeteers, etc). Donations will also pay for space rental, grief elixir given to participants upon arrival at events, and the documentary crew so that we can host the events *for free* in 10 communities/cities. 

What your donation’s impact will have:

When our country’s painful relationship with death is changed or perhaps even healed, we will all have more time to enjoy life instead of avoiding or fearing death. We will all be able to mourn and celebrate our loved ones when they die, instead of getting weighed down in financial and legal documents. We will have confidence that the systems in place are here to support us, as opposed to alienate and confuse us. 

The DMDT team is so grateful for your support. We are fiscally sponsored by SIMA STUDIOS, so your donation is 100% tax deductible.

Love to you!

The DMDT Team

Testimonials from Event Participants & Death File 1:1 Sessions

“death, me, dying tree was a profoundly moving experience that helped me recognize deep fears and questions in a welcoming and supportive space. Lana effortlessly weaves together ritual and performance while also providing a vast catalogue of information about death and dying. Participants will not only be touched on a deeply personal and spiritual level, but they’ll also take away much practical information that will allow them to communicate more openly about the cycles of life and death with themselves and with loved ones. “

“Attending the Chicago event on Monday night and flying to be at my grandmother’s bedside the next morning, while she died for three days (finally passing on Friday at 5pm) was life changing. It prepared me to be present with her, to attend to my grieving grandfather, to logistically arrange things for my mom who was not in town, and prepared me to be in deep communion with my family for 12 days.”

“Lana transformed what would have been a challenging and confusing process into one that was approachable, actionable and fully supported. Lana’s efforts kept me organized and clear on what tasks needed to be completed next while honoring my own rhythms. This included providing resources and information to support my environmental values and gently educating me on various rules and regulations that helped me to make more informed choices. I am extremely grateful to have been able to work with Lana in creating my death planning file and paperwork. I cannot think of a better person to have guided me through this integral and meaningful process.”

“I’m in a little bit of a transition… well my grandpa died last week, so it was really crazy timing, so it was the next day that I saw this event, I really want to have a better relationship with death, because I feel like it could be a beautiful thing, and I would like to help my family with it as well, because they’re all struggling you know.”

“I had this feeling today that my mom was having a good time, she was like oh it’s a party for me! I had this moment of like there are all these presences in the room of people who are like oh they’re remembering me and talking about me instead of being like, I don’t talk about my dead mom.”

(Why did you come to this event?) “Because I avoid it all the time… if I’m in a group of people who are all talking about it, it’ll be easier than if I’m doing it on my own.”

“I just wanted to thank you for this gathering, I uh, I lost my mother, my mother passed two months ago and we went through enormous grief but I’ve also been feeling her presence… I feel like she’s been- you know- urging me to complete the grieving process and live my life. But I’ve been feeling a lack of purpose and having a hard time feeling light, and this tonight was so full of light, and so life affirming. But in the context of a recognition of the profundity of the passing and I really appreciate the way you brought that together, because it really enabled me to open to it in a way that I’ve been having a hard time doing, and I really appreciate the work you all are doing.”

“Working with Lana is pure joy even when confronting hard topics like death and dying. She makes it easy to dive deep into uncomfortable zones and the unknown in a safe sacred space, held by her vibrant spirit. Her genuine care matched with her connection to all life & its counterpart death, Lana helps bridge the worlds with an unparalleled sweet sensitivity. She is a gift! A pure channel of love, blessing other’s lives as a reiki practitioner, yoga teacher and death doula.”