The thought of death can be daunting for many, but nurses who specialize in end-of-life care are adept at providing comfort and easing the fears of those nearing the end of their lives.
In the world of hospice care, death is a routine part of life. For these dedicated professionals, the phases of life and death become as predictable as the seasons.
However, working closely with dying patients also allows them to notice unusual occurrences. Sometimes, seemingly miraculous events happen, even when a patient’s condition appears beyond hope.
Julie McFadden, a hospice nurse known for sharing stories from her experiences, spoke with Rainn Wilson, an actor who has transitioned to podcasting, about some of the extraordinary events she has witnessed while on the job. One such event involved a call she received after leaving a patient who unexpectedly got up and started moving around.
During their conversation, Wilson, known for his role as Dwight Schrute on The Office, discussed with McFadden her efforts to change perceptions around death. She emphasized that many people experience a serene and peaceful passing as their bodies naturally wind down.
These experiences can sometimes include what McFadden refers to as ‘miracles’—sudden changes or visual hallucinations, which she describes as encountering ‘angels.’
Miraculous occurrences are not limited to spiritual experiences. McFadden recounted an astonishing story about a patient in her 50s who was ‘actively dying.’ The woman was unconscious, her breathing was irregular, and oxygen deprivation seemed to signal the end was near.
“There’s no coming back from this,” McFadden remembered thinking.
As she ended her shift, she observed the woman’s blue lips, a clear sign of hypoxemia, indicating dangerously low oxygen levels and an imminent death.
However, after leaving for the night, McFadden received an unexpected call from the woman’s family. Her son reported that she had a restful night, which led McFadden to assume she had passed away.
To her astonishment, the son informed her that the woman had not only survived but had also gotten up, walked around, and was making pancakes. “She’s eating pancakes in the kitchen,” he told the flabbergasted nurse.
McFadden shared with Wilson: “100 percent miracle Rainn, absolutely no scientific way this woman could come back to life like that, the way she looked.”
Although the nurse could not explain the sudden recovery and the patient’s newfound appetite for pancakes, the woman lived for another three months, which was undoubtedly a blessing for her family.