Importance Score: 45 / 100 🔵
Hospice Nurse Shares Insights on Deathbed Visions and Near-Death Phenomena
A seasoned hospice nurse is offering a unique perspective on death and dying, sharing compelling observations that suggest patients often experience visions of heaven and connect with deceased loved ones prior to passing. Julie McFadden, 42, a Los Angeles-based registered nurse specializing in hospice care, has gained a significant social media following by sharing her insights to demystify and destigmatize the end-of-life transition.
Witnessing Spiritual Experiences in Hospice Care
Drawing from nearly two decades of experience caring for patients in hospice, Ms. McFadden recounts numerous instances of what appear to be paranormal and spiritual encounters. She explains that terminally ill individuals frequently seem able to interact with the afterlife in the days and weeks leading up to their death.
Understanding ‘Visioning’ or Deathbed Visions
One notable phenomenon she highlights is ‘visioning,’ also known as deathbed visions. This occurs when a person nearing death begins to perceive individuals or objects not physically present in their surroundings. Ms. McFadden indicates that visioning typically commences approximately three to four weeks before death and estimates it occurs in as much as 80 percent of cases she has observed during the dying process.
Common Visions Experienced by Dying Patients
These visions frequently involve deceased relatives, including parents, spouses, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and friends. Ms. McFadden also notes the appearance of religious figures such as angels, Jesus, Muhammad, or God, alongside beloved pets that have passed away. Beyond people and animals, patients have also reported visions of serene landscapes or symbolic imagery.
The ‘Death Stare’ and ‘Death Reach’ Phenomena
Closely linked to visioning is another observation Ms. McFadden terms the ‘death stare’ or the ‘death reach’. This phenomenon typically manifests roughly one to two weeks before death.
Characteristics of the ‘Death Stare’ and ‘Death Reach’
According to Ms. McFadden, individuals in this phase may begin to gaze beyond those present, fixating on a wall, ceiling, a corner of the room, or a distant point. This intense gaze can persist for extended periods and is often accompanied by the person raising their arms, as if reaching for someone or something unseen.
Examples of Deathbed Visions in Hospice Settings
Ms. McFadden references online videos illustrating these phenomena. In one instance, an elderly woman receiving hospice care exhibits a clear deathbed vision, reaching out into what appears to be empty space.
Video Evidence of Deathbed Visions
Analyzing the footage, Ms. McFadden describes the woman’s behavior as a classic ‘death reach’ and ‘death stare’. She interprets the woman’s actions and utterances, including saying “okay,” as communication with someone not visible to others, further supporting the occurrence of a vision. Notably, a voice apparently captured in the video, inaudible to those present, whispered “mamma,” which the recorder believed to be her deceased sister greeting their mother.
Another video shared by a follower of Ms. McFadden depicts a similar event. An elderly woman, filmed by her daughter two weeks before her death, appears to be having a vision. The daughter reported hearing her mother conversing with multiple unseen individuals in the room.
Interpreting Patient Reactions to Deathbed Visions
Based on the footage, Ms. McFadden suggests the woman seems ‘clearly really excited’ to be seeing these figures, indicated by her animated voice and gestures as she interacts with the unseen presences.
The Significance of Deathbed Visions
Ms. McFadden emphasizes the importance of deathbed visions, asserting they consistently demonstrate that “death can be peaceful.”
Reassuring Nature of Deathbed Phenomena
She further explains that these visions frequently indicate that individuals are “not suffering as they die.” Instead, many patients experience “beautiful visions, meeting with long-dead loved ones, or having spiritual experiences in line with their deeply-held beliefs.”
Prevalence and Acceptance of Deathbed Phenomena
Ms. McFadden stresses that these phenomena are “not rare occurrences.” Whether considering visions, premonitions of death, perceptions of bright lights or angels, or other related experiences, “a significant number of people seem to experience them.”
Deathbed Phenomena in Medical Understanding
Despite the lack of complete scientific explanation, Ms. McFadden points out that the frequency of these experiences is such that they are documented in hospice textbooks. Within medical and scientific literature, they are recognized as either death-related sensory experiences (DRSE) or deathbed phenomena (DBP).
Patient Awareness During Deathbed Visions
Ms. McFadden concludes by noting the insightful awareness of hospice patients experiencing these visions. “Most of the time, my hospice patients who have these experiences know that the person they’re seeing is dead.” They are not confused or delusional but are “alert” and understand that others do not share their sensory experiences, often expressing curiosity about what is happening.