Not everyone is a medical decision-maker. Not everyone is a legal proxy.
But that doesn’t mean they aren’t essential. Friends, partners, chosen family — these are the people who walk beside us, fill in the gaps, and show up when it matters most.

This page honors the quiet helpers, the fierce advocates, and the ones who simply stay.

Roles companions may play include:

• Being present at appointments or difficult conversations
• Sitting vigil or offering respite care
• Helping organize meals, messages, or memory projects
• Holding emotional space or acting as a witness
• Supporting after a death — with logistics, love, or listening

Your presence is enough. Your role is real. And there’s space here to name it.