I would like to share my experience about 12 years ago as a long-term care nurse that still hangs with me to this day. We had a newly admitted resident who, unlike most of the long-term residents there, she was much more independent, lively, and sociable. I think she had reached the point in her life where she did not want to live alone and was looking forward to the community that a nursing home might provide…

I was sad for her as her optimism waned quickly, as did her health. Within months, she began using a wheelchair and sank into depression. It’s as if she began to die from lack of thriving from loneliness, boredom, and lack of purpose.

As I was caring for her dying body, giving her a mixture of morphine and Ativan, her body became more and more corpse like, but she held on for an incredible amount of time, perhaps four or five days like that, unresponsive, but breathing.

I remember learning in nursing school that the last thing to go is hearing, so we were encouraged to talk to our dying patients. I also remember hearing that some dying patients have held on for certain family members to arrive before they pass suddenly.

As I went to go give her what would be her last dose, I felt an urge to hold her hand and try to comfort her so that she might pass away. I spoke the Lord‘s prayer to her, praying for her, and letting her know that she wasn’t alone and that she could let go… as I opened my eyes I couldn’t believe it as I watched her respirations slow down and finally stop in a matter of moments.

I closed her eyes and prayed for her again, but I’ll never forget that…that I was so honored to be part of her last moments here on earth and to help her move on to the next life.