Traumatic loss as a young child motivated Kelly’s life-long quest to create a healing community that minimizes suffering and honors grief. She is an advocating voice guiding, comforting, and supporting terminally ill patients and their loved ones.
Company
Conversations with Kelly
Publicist
Belay Creative
1 Representative
For over 25 years, Grosklags' expertise while working in oncology, palliative care, and hospice has been welcomed by patients, caretakers and clinicians. Her compassionate demeanor as a clinical psychotherapist has supported patients, their families, and care providers who seek peace while experiencing the grief associated with end-of-life care.
Grosklags' childhood encounter with trauma and grief motivates her work. When she was only 11 years old, she was shopping in the grocery store with her 33-year old mother. Her mom suffered a heart attack and responders administered CPR. After spending the next three months in and out of the intensive care unit at the hospital, Grosklags' mother passed away. "My family lost out on many beautiful opportunities because of the lack in training and knowledge of end of life care," says Grosklags. "Little did I know then, that at eleven years old, my career and life work had presented itself."
Grosklags' first endeavor into film making is her new documentary, "Dying Is Not Giving Up." The film features Grosklags' patient, Judy Erdahl, who was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. Knowing that her time was nearing an end, Erdahl describes to Grosklags the very human experience of dying, from first learning about her terminal diagnosis to what she hopes her death will be like. Together along with Erdahl's family, friends and oncologist, new perspectives are shared in hopes of making the dying experience more meaningful to a person. "Everyone deserves a good death," Grosklags says. "Our hope is that we can teach medical providers to approach the conversation of a terminal diagnosis and end-of-life care with more empathy, respect, and compassion."
Grosklags created the public healing forum "Conversations with Kelly" to share her experience and build community among those seeking healing. She hosts signature events to help minimize suffering and honor grief. She has shared national stages at hospitals, clinical conferences, schools, places of worship, and funeral homes.
Grosklags' book, "A Comforted Heart," is a collection of insights learned through her many years working with her patients. She has sat at the bedside of thousands of terminally ill patients and been with many of them at their last breath. "I feel privileged to take part in these profound and intimate moments with them, their families and their friends," says Grosklags. "I’m grateful for the lessons I have learned, and love that I can share them with others to offer reassurance, hope and healing, and perhaps change our perspective on dying."
Official Selection
Dying Is Not Giving Up
Toronto International Women Film Festival
Toronto, ON
2021
Official Selection
Dying Is Not Giving Up
Paris International Short Festival
Paris
2021
Finalist
Dying Is Not Giving Up
jellyFEST
Los Angeles, CA
2021
Finalist
Dying Is Not Giving Up
Vancouver Independent Film Festival
Vancouver, BC
2021
Best Trailer
Dying Is Not Giving Up
Hollywood International Golden Age Festival
Hollywood
2021
Best Documentary Short
Dying Is Not Giving Up
Tokyo International Short Film Festival
Tokyo
2021
Finalist
Dying Is Not Giving Up
Florence Film Awards
Florence
2020
Honorable Mention: Documentary
Dying Is Not Giving Up
Top Shorts
Online
2020
Official Selection
Dying Is Not Giving Up
Montreal Independent Film Festival
Montreal
2020
Official Selection
Dying Is Not Giving Up
Venice Shorts
Venice
2020
Finalist
Dying Is Not Giving Up
Chicago Indie Films Awards
Chicago
2020
Finalist
Dying Is Not Giving Up
Best Directors Awards
London
2020
Honorable Mention: Best Documentary
Dying Is Not Giving Up
Reale Film Festival
Milano
2020
Best Producer
Dying Is Not Giving Up
Gold Star Movie Awards
Newark, NJ
2020
Best Inspirational Film
Dying Is Not Giving Up
Gold Star Movie Awards
Newark, NJ
2020
Award of Merit
Dying Is Not Giving Up
Best Shorts
La Jolla, CA
2020
Award of Prestige: Best 1st Time Producer
Dying Is Not Giving Up
Vegas Movie Awards
Las Vegas, NV
2020
Audience Award
Dying Is Not Giving Up
Vegas Movie Awards
Las Vegas, NV
2020
Award of Excellence: Best Documentary Feature
Dying Is Not Giving Up
Vegas Movie Awards
Las Vegas, NV
2020
Official Selection
Dying Is Not Giving Up
Indie Shorts Awards Cannes
Cannes
2020
Best Documentary Short
Dying Is Not Giving Up
Amsterdam World International Film Festival
Amsterdam
2020
Best Documentary Short
Dying Is Not Giving Up
New York International Film Awards
New York
2020
Traumatic loss as a young child motivated Kelly’s life-long quest to create a healing community that minimizes suffering and honors grief. She is an advocating voice guiding, comforting, and supporting terminally ill patients and their loved ones.
Company
Conversations with Kelly
Publicist
Belay Creative
1 Representative
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