metaphysical stories

[nrcnurse]

The metaphysical aspects of hospice fascinate me. I've many times been introduced to people I can't see, been asked questions about activities going on in an empty room, been told about "activities on the other side of the door" where there is no physical door, and had other experiences that could have been written off as drug-induced psychosis. In contemplating my master's thesis, I'd like to write about "Energy in Transition," based on the concept that energy cannot be destroyed, it only changes form. Would you fellow hospice nurses share some of your stories with me? In my heart of hearts, I know this to be a real phenomenon, but being able to cite from sources other than my own experience will provide additional credibility. Thank you in advance!

Nancy

[RubyRN,CHPN]

I'm uncertain if this actually qualifies but the behavior of animals when their masters passed or were close. One particular case, the little dog ran to the door and put his front paws on the closed bedroom door as his master passed as if to follow his spirit as it left the room....still sends shivers...true story.

[PoetOfMyHeart]

yes animals definitely seem to "know." a little dog of a patient i had last week would not leave my patient's bed. the family had to pick him up and take him to the kitchen to eat and outside to pee, and the whole time i was there he had this very concerned, scared look in his eyes.

many times i am told by patients who are a week or two away from leaving this world that they see their (dead) parents, spouse, sibling, etc. one that i remember in particular is a woman pointing through her window and saying she saw her brother and parents up on the hill and she was going to go meet them. in my experience this happens less than two weeks before the patient dies.

it can't be explained in my opinion. they oftentimes just know.

~Sara~

[ErinS, BSN, RN]

I once had a patient with Down's Syndrome who saw a cat who had died years earlier. She saw the cat for a full month before she passed away. She would introduce him, play with him, and talk to him for a long time.

I actually teach my patient's families that those who are dying often see people who have died previously. I want them to expect to see some of the strange things, so they don't just think their loved one is going crazy.

Another thing that is fascinating to me are the tasks people focus on getting done before they die. I once had a 32 year old patient on ativan and morphine infusions climb down and back up 2 flights of stairs to make sure she had e-mailed her work, set out the jewelery she wanted everyone to have, and brush her teeth. All this was 12 hours before she died!

[Ginapixi, BSN, RN]

there are a lot of things out there....

at hour hospice house it was a common occurrence for patients close to death to see a little boy some times for days; some would tell they saw him again, once a lady stated she "caught him today and he sat on her lap for a while"

no one knows if a child had passed at that house in the past or where the child comes from

last week the daughter of a dying patient replied to me "oh i know he is not dying alone if i am not here" after a pause she added "there are a lot of people here with him" - i asked if she could see them and she answered no and in a soft voice "but i hear them talking"; i have no reason to doubt her, she was always devoted to her dad's care and as normal as can be;

we just leave our bodies when we pass... pass on to the "other side"

[eliciarn]

Hi Nancy !

Have you read "Final Gifts" ? it is an awesome read... there are some great examples in there of exactly what your speaking of.

Also I have had many men personal experiences with my patients ! Here is one that is probably the most riveting:I work in a 2 bed comfort care home (for the dying); We had a Pt. "Bobbie" a WWII Veteran Nurse, she died peacefully under our care. As you can imagine there is a high demand for our beds, so a couple of days later a older gentlemen was placed in that same bed. He was with us for approx 2 weeks, as he was "Nearing" I was sitting at his bedside when he called out "Bobbie" ! I asked him if Bobbie was a friend of his; he replied "No not really" I then asked him is Bobbie a man or a women ? He replied "A women" using a tone of voice as if I was crazy, I quickly realized he assumed I could see what he was seeing. Lastly, I asked him where is she? As he gazed up into the corner of the room he said "right there" "where I proclaimed", his final statement was "right there ~ in flight". This man NEVER had any knowledge that Bobbie ever occupied the bed before him. WOW, AMAZING STUFF! I hope you find it useful.