Craziest things I’ve witnessed being a hospice nurse.

[joanhamilton]

My father in law was 92 when he passed from dimentia. He was in a coma for 2 days when hospice said he would probably pass late the 2nd day. In his hospice they had volunteer comfort singers who would come into the rooms and softly play and sing songs familiar to the patient. A comfort singer having been told of my father in laws condition came in and softly started playing his guitar and singing Ill Fly Away. Dad woke up almost immediately and sang with the singer then passed away peacefully 15 minutes later. I'll Fly Away was his favorite song.

[alyssajoyblack]

My 96 yr old great-grandad, a lifelong chain-smoker (to go with copious amounts of alcohol and salty fatty food) somehow managed to be very healthy right til the end. He had a minor fall and had to go to hospital and during whatever scans they did they found he had a reasonably small lung cancer. He was in no way actively dying, not even noticeably sick. But as soon as he heard the ‘C’ word, he said ‘I’m having none of that, I’m off’. He died that night, reportedly with a smile on his face. He’d probably still be here if no one had told him he had cancer!

[teresathompson]

As my 96yr old Grandmother was in hospice she said to me, “my mom asked me when I’m coming home and I told her when my room is ready.” (Keep in mind at 96 my Great Grandmom had passed away about 25yrs before this occurred) my grandmother passed away 3 days later. So beautiful to know she was with her mom again!

[tonynatoli]

As a terminal patient I’m glad to have your insight.
I was mugged badly 4 years ago at an ATM. Severely beat in the head.
Stopped breathing, coded. But they brought me back. In a coma for 6 weeks. Had classic out of body. Saw people that had passed on the horizon. Getting closer. Waiving for me to join them. Saw my body below and went back. Didn’t know that process caused perm kidney damage. Dialysis. Then a transplant. It’s rejecting. Lovely immune suppressants have given me cancer as well. Last spring my labs were horrible. I felt close. Felt my dead friends and relatives around me. Even felt long gone pets sleep with me. Not sure why but labs have improved and in a good temporary place. I’m aware of what’s coming. No fear. At peace. I can relate to all your videos not as a person whose been with a dying person. But from my own experiences having coded and then getting close. Thank god I live in Calif. EOLA applies to me. Esp with inevitable kidney failure. (I will never go back on dialysis. Hideous way to live life). Thank you for your work and vids.

[Chrissy]

My grandma used to be someone who laughed and joked and after a breaking her hip she became really quiet. I came back to visit while she was in the hospital because I had a bad feeling. My last night there we sat on the edge of the bed watching a movie. She was like the old gram. She was talking, laughing and we were teasing each other. There is a pic of us laughing. It was such a gift. I flew back home and she died a couple days later. I am so glad we had that amazing night.

[divana]

My dad was in a coma for a week. He was 87 so we didn't have hopes he would make it. He always mentioned if he ever was so sick he became a "vegetable" (his words) we should let him go in peace.
My siblings lived in different cities and even different countries but he waited until we were all in the room. He came back from the coma, opened his eyes and looked at each one of us in the eyes saying goodbye. And passed away. To us it was beautiful.

[marilynmack]

I was caring for a 90 something year old and her daughter and grand children were chatting away in the kitchen. Bess opened her eyes, commented on the happy noise coming from her loved ones. She asked me what day it was and I told her Tuesday. She responded " Tuesday, that's a good day to die.' She closed her eyes and was gone. I didn't, even have time to call her daughter into the room. I think she was happy they were all having a happy moment in the kitchen and chose to leave with just me in the room.💕 Thank you, Nurse Julie for sharing your experiences with those of us facing death.

[moore.k]

I was sent home with hospice. Had been told they could do no more for me in the hospital ( had been begging to go home, just knew I could get better at home) after a
week and a half the hospice nurse
got angry because she could see she wasn’t needed
anymore. That was 15 years ago.

[cindykq]

My patients who had visits from dead loved ones usually had nice, peaceful deaths. It's like they were being prepared and weren't afraid at all.

Only one death was creepy, but in a nice way. My patient was a very loving husband and family man. He held on until I arrived, so I was with his family to support them when he passed. After they sat with his body a while, they stepped out do I could clean and straighten him up for the funeral home guys. I was talking to him as I worked, saying I was glad he wasn't suffering anymore, and that his family was going to be sad but they'd be ok because he'd got them ready for his death. I thanked him for teaching me how to die bravely and with love. Then I said, "There, you're all clean now, so I'll just put the bed down and let your family back in." The bed then proceeds to put itself all the way down. The bed controller was resting on the bed, face up, not touching anything. The bed had never had any glitches or malfunctioned. That was him all over, still being considerate even after death.

[JulieWoman]

The day my mom died, it was a chilly mid-October fall day. Her sister hadn’t been able to visit her during the 7 weeks she was in ICU, but our entire family came the day we turned off life support. When my aunt got to the hospital, a large blue butterfly followed her from her car to the door of the hospital. After my mom’s death, the same butterfly followed her from the door of the hospital back to her car.

[amypupka]

I was never on hospice, but I think I'm pretty much a miracle. When I gave birth to my son almost 13 years ago, I had an Amniotic Fluid Embolism. I coded briefly, but came back. I don't remember my son much as an infant. I was in an induced coma for 3 weeks before going to rehab. I had a stroke during my coma state. I had to learn how to walk, write, and pretty much learn everything again. I was left handed. Since everything happened, I'm right handed.

[aitimomma]

My dad was 94 and on hospice. He got Pneumonia and we thought he wasn’t going to make it. He recovered and seemed to be the healthiest he’s been in yrs. About a month later he really was good. He could see, he could hear and he was generally just the funniest person to be with. A week later he had a heart attack and died. I really believe in the rally before they die and what a blessing it was.

[jamesbaker]

My heart leapt at your mention of dead pets. I've said goodbye to so many friends. I hope it's true.

[debranestlen]

My beautiful 87 year old Mom had been in hospice for 4 months. She was an incredible woman of 9 kids, but she had so many medical issues. The very first time she continually slept for 4 days without waking, we knew her time would come soon. On that 4th day, my sister and I were repositioning her in bed, when all of a sudden, her eyes flew open, she has a big smile on her face, as she says, 'I'm going home! I'm going home in 11 days!'.. my sister and I threw very puzzling looks at each other, and my Sis says, "What Mom? What do you mean? You are home, Mom." And my Mom replies, "No, I'm going home." And I say, "Where are you going home?" And she says, "Where the buffalo roam." Which made both of us briefly chuckle, because my Mom had always been full of wit and character, and she always sang that song to us when we were kids!♥️ So my Sis says, "Mom, you are home." My Mom's mood was very uplifting that day. She never made another mention of it. But true to her word, she passed so peacefully, exactly 11 days later!♥️💔♥️ She knew, and I will never forget this. She was so loved, I miss her so!

[janwheeler]

Julie, first off, thank you, you are amazing. I'm a 65 year old married woman who took care of my 92 year old precious mom until the end. She had lived with us many years so when she went to the hospital for a 4th bout of pneumonia in a year, her doctor brought in Palliative care team. At first I was in denial that mama wouldn't rally again and get well, I just didn't want to let go because we had been extremely close and very good friends my 60 years of life. When hospital delirium didnt fade away after this last hospital stay we knew things had changed and it was obvious she would be allowed a dignified death at home with loved ones around her. Hospice began coming out about 5 weeks before she passed and they were amazing. Mom would drift in and out of delirium for about a week after getting home, then was back to being in the present. I spent the last 2 weeks sleeping in a recliner in her room and one night I awoke to mom with her robe on, purse on her arm standing at her hallway door. I jumped up and asked what she was doing she said " I'm waiting for my ride, the jitney in due to pick me up any time. This happened two more times until she became too weak to get up. In the last week she slept more than was awake and would reach up toward the ceiling, or straight out in front of her on many occasions, smile then go back to sleep. When she took her final breath, I was holding her hand, my daughters had just left the room to the call of my husband announcing dinner and mom looked up at the ceiling, staring, I kept telling her I would be okay, that she could go be with daddy and her parents and Jesus. She sat forward, gripped my hand took a deep breath and flew away. It honestly was the calmest, most beautiful thing to know she brought me into the world all those years ago, and I was honored to be with her when she left this world. I will never forget it. 5½ years later, I miss her terribly, but I know I'll be with her again one day in heaven.

[pjakobsson]

Last year, I was looking after a lady who was in terminal agitation, I went into her room and her face was shining, her eyes were shining like diamonds, she had a beautiful, peaceful smile on her face, I am convinced that she could see heaven

[bboyzgram]

My brother was pretty feisty. About 4 hours before dying he asked for a chocolate milk shake..his wife made the shake. When she gave it to him he sent it back "to the kitchen", it wasn't thick enough LOL.
He also waited til his son got off work to chose to die. About an hour after his son arrived, he spent some quiet time with his son, then said "I see God now, I'm going to go" and let out one large exhale.

[Thetruthiswhatmatters]

My grandmother died on her terms, the family was gathered around her, there was a 'positive' energy around her and in the room. 5 minutes before she took her last breath, she called my name to come close for a final hug with her, and with the most intense smile she died, ...
After that, she visited me in my dream speaking to me: "Everything is allright, Everything is always okay for you in your life", she was in my dreamvision radiant, shining, peacefull, full of joy and looking 'young' again. I will never forget her Strenght, guideness and Light until my time is there. I am very grateful🙏💜

[marygilson]

Once, when arriving on a Surgical Ward on/for an early shift. A patient in the room opposite the nurses station had sadly died during the night. The night shift had kindly been able to tidy and clean and prepare the room for the next patient and for us. But the room was so brightly filled with sunshine and the room had the most peaceful yet uplifting feeling. I still nearly tear up thinking about it and this is about 40 years later- it was so lovely and warm and soothing.

[meganl.]

A sister of my grandma's who was dying in a nursing home who didn't know a brother in law of hers had died recently appeared to be in the presence of and talking to relatives who had passed. She suddenly got a strange look on her face, said his name and asked what he was doing here (referring to the other side). No one had told her he had died, not wanting to upset her.