Death is the only certainty in life, and yet it can be scary to some, if not most, of us. However, Hospice nurse Julie McFadden, who also goes by Hospice Nurse Julie on YouTube, doesn’t seem bothered by the scary concept and what it entails at all.
Since she spent so much time with patients at the end of their lives, she has grown unafraid of death. Her videos discussed some phenomena and facts about death that will get your mind blown.
The unconscious can hear us
In one of her videos, she went into depth about how unconscious and unresponsive loved ones can still hear the people around them.
She advised that when being with an unconscious loved one, you should be mindful of what you’re saying; you should be talking to them, not about them, and better not argue around them.
Deathbed visioning
McFadden shares how many death phenomena can be mind-blowing, including deathbed visioning. The patient ends up “choosing when they’re going to die, waiting for people to come into the room, waiting for people to leave,” as she said.
The phenomenon was so shocking and repetitive that she felt she had to share it.
More on the deathbed visioning
McFadden explained further about the phenomenon and gave examples. For instance, a patient would be seeing their dead father waiting for them or feeling that “tonight is when I’m going to die.” This usually occurs a few weeks before the dying patient’s passing.
The dying handle dehydration differently
McFadden surprisingly revealed that dehydration can lead to a more peaceful death, “a dying body cannot handle the hydration that a living body can,” she explained.
She elaborated on that, explaining how overloading the dying body with water can be a burden on the heart, and eventually will lead to swelling and respiratory distress.
The body prepares itself for dying
In her amazement about how our bodies “help us die,” she explained how our bodies know that dehydration would make the body feel better. She explained the process scientifically, saying, “You’ll go into ketosis and your body will release endorphins that will give you a euphoric feeling and start dulling pain.”
More on ketosis
According to Cleveland Clinic, Ketosis is a process where the body burns fat for energy instead of glucose (sugar). According to hospice nurse McFadden, this process dulls the pain and increases euphoria. In addition, calcium levels rise, leaving the patient feeling more sleepy.
McFadden sometimes faces backlash
McFadden faces resistance from patient’s families when she advises against IV fluids. Yes, IV fluids can do wonders for the healthy, but with the dying, it’s different. She explained, “when a dying body gets hydration, it doesn’t do what it’s supposed to do.”
Other phenomena like terminal lucidity
Also referred to as “the rally” or “the surge,” this phenomenon occurs when the dying experience a sudden burst of energy and feel like they are getting better after feeling extremely ill.
It can last for a day or two before the dying patient passes away, which is a double-edged sword. Some may be reassured by this, while others may be heartbroken by it.
The death reach
A less common but worthy of mentioning phenomenon is the death reach. It’s a phenomenon where patients appear to be reaching out in the air toward an unseen something or someone, like they’re about to hug them or shake their hands.
The death stare
This phenomenon is similar to the death reach one; the only difference is that the patient in this case is fixated on a specific spot. In this phenomenon, the patient seems to be gazing at something beyond the physical realm.
