Death's Perfect Timing

As healthcare providers, at some point during our careers we will inevitably share our goose bump stories with others. Our experiences bring those happenstances or koi-inky-dink moments just one narrative scene away from being easily scripted for a popular movie or television show.

The dialogue always starts innocently enough. Sometimes occurring during a few precious minutes with your workmates after a crisis or unusual event. This story's setting begins at an after-work gathering at a local pub to unwind and join in libations. The conversation somehow manages to lead to "shop talk".

"Hey! How did that code in your unit yesterday turn out?", asks the over-motherly nurse.

'"We didn't have a "code"', the wide-eyed, young graduate nurse replied while simultaneously air quoting with her fingers.

"Really? That's not what I heard?".

"YEAH", a few of the nurses chimed in simultaneously.

A small group of nurses within earshot, stopped their conversations mid-sentence now captivated by the young nurse being questioned. Metal barstools began screeching across the cement floor moving in closer; their intrigued faces clearly wanting more details. The young nurse took a slow, calculating sip of liquid courage while carefully choosing her words. It was a small town. Everybody knew everybody and their business. She was trained early on, that breaching patient confidentiality would risk disciplinary action over sharing an experience. But no matter what she said, they could easily look at the obituary section of the local paper and put two and two together.

Her neck turned blotchy pink and appearing slightly uncomfortable, fidgeted on her stool while thinking, "They'll probably think I'm making this up or worse yet... think I'm CRAZY!"

With some trepidation, she softly spoke, "Something bizarre happened. But I swear, it really did happen! For almost two weeks we had this patient on palliative care in our ICU. The family kept a constant bedside vigil. The patient suffered a post-operative hemorrhagic stroke after a metastatic bowel resection. Comatose and intubated, the prognosis was poor. Visitors where non-stop day and night. The youngest son lived several states away. They wanted to wait for him to arrive before making the decision to change the code status and remove life support. Every night, family and friends would gather at the bedside, close the big glass doors, then pray and sing hymns. Yesterday, the son finally arrived."

She overheard several of the intensely listening nurses gasp, while exchanging knowingly looks and nodding simultaneously.

"Clergy arrived, orders were written. My co-worker and I removed all life support then returned to the nurses' station. I noticed a blinking heart rate on the main monitor. I had forgotten to disconnect the hardwire from the patient. Not to disturb the family gathered around the bed holding hands and praying. All we could do was watch the monitor while listening to them sing one of the patient's favorite hymns "Rock of Ages". Then the heart rate began dropping...56...33...28 "While I draw this fleeting breath, when my eyes shall close in death...25..." When I rise to worlds unknown...17...13... "Rock of Ages, cleft for me" ...10... "Let me hide myself in Thee" ... then asystole. We both startled, as the glass door slid open. The wife stepped out and said, 'He's gone'. I immediately felt a cool breeze tickle both my arms with goosebumps and the hair at the nap of my neck felt electrified."

If this story sounds just a little far-fetched. I probably would have agreed with you. If it wasn't for the fact, I was that young nurse. I never could explain the scientific phenomena I witnessed the day; when death had a somewhat creepy but beautifully perfect, heavenly timing.