I love this question, but I’ve had so many of these type of experiences, I’m not sure which one was the “most” supernatural! I have already mentioned a couple due to previous questions, so I’ll tell you one I have not mentioned.
I was the nurse on-call and the typical 2:00 AM call came. I was expecting it. The patient was in the active dying phase.
Dying occurs gradually, while the state of active dying occurs when the nurse perceives certain signs from the patient.
-Blood pressure usually drops.
- Temperature frequently rises and cannot be controlled with Tylenol or the like.
-Heart rate frequently rises initially trying to compensate, then it too starts to drop.
-Oxygen saturation (taken vial the nail bed with a small clip on monitor) usually drops.
The above 4 signs are key, but there are many more. Active dying can happen slowly, or can be accelerated. I would visit my actively dying patients in the morning, and again in the afternoon. Things change so quickly! A good in -depth report to the on- call nurse, and making sure that end-of-life comfort medication is actually AT the home already, is most important to ensure a smooth and pain-free transition into death, that experienced Hospice Case Managers handle! They always “tuck in” their transitioning patients at the end of every day, and especially so on Friday night for the weekend On-Call nurse(s)!
Sorry, I digress. This early AM call came in. There were 4 grown frantic sons present and the patient’s wife. He was in a hospital bed in the living room. (This is frequently the BEST place for the patient to be!) It’s larger, it is the center of the Family when visiting, and they are not isolated to a back room.
Though it was 2:45 AM when I arrived, the moon was full and shone beautifully over the awesome garden in the back of the house!! Yes, it was raining! Foggy, Hazy, but muted and beautiful!! I entered and checked patient. I reassured the entire family. I sat vigil with them and many stories were told. One story included the fact that their Dads favourite place to sit was in the backyard, at one particular spot as he surveyed his beautiful creation! Have I stated yet that I did not know this patient, or his family prior to this visit!!
Many more stories were told and we talked into the wee hours. Their Dad was comatose, and had not communicated for several days at this point. Suddenly, he struggled to sit straight up in the bed! And he very clearly stated “Take me out”!!! He began to struggle as his grown sons did their best to keep him laying in the bed!
I had a voice very clearly tell me to take him to his garden!! I gave orders and direction! We HAD to get him to his garden, to his favorite spot!! Though I didn’t know where it was, exactly, I left myself OPEN to the directions I was following!!
I had one son get his wheelchair, another to grab a blanket, another to get the umbrella ! With all of us working together, we lifted him carefully into his wheelchair and we pushed him to the garden! We all stood in the rain at his favorite spot while he sat, bundled up in his chair, dry from the rain, and surrounded by his loving family and this hospice nurse, and there he died. In comfort, at peace, ending his life exactly as HE chose!!
He died within a minute or two once in his garden. No one knew he had slipped away except me. We all talked about the beautiful creation his garden was, and how much peace he had found there. I eased the family into the news that he had passed.
They were sad, but completely at peace.
I have heard “the Voice” many times while caring for a dying patient. It tells me EXACTLY what to do and WHEN to do it!! I have been able to do exactly as the patient needs, when he needs it because I TRUST it! It has never steered me wrong. I usually have goosebumps ( I call them Godbumps), when this happens. I am also hyper focused, totally upon the patient and their immediate need at the time. After the patient passes, I can turn and focus on the comfort of the family.
As one who was raised Roman Catholic, not having EVER been exposed to freely expressed verbal prayers, in front of ANYONE EVER, I have truly come a very long way.
I leave myself open for prayer to be verbally expressed THROUGH me!! I pray openly and out loud when the “Voice” tells me to, without embarrassment, or self-censoring. I don’t always remember what I say, but mostly, I do!
This may not be a mind-blowing revelation, but if you have ANY idea of how much I rejected ANY discussion of religious issues, until I became a Hospice Nurse, you would know how much this has impacted me, my life, and my patient’s deaths!!
Its wonderful. And I am Thankful for yhe guidance I receive!!