The majority of us attempt to avoid thinking about death until we are compelled to. But for Julie McFadden, a hospice nurse, it’s just a part of life.
This California nurse has seen it all after years of helping patients pass away, and now she’s talking about which illnesses cause the most agony in the end and which provide for a far more tranquil existence.
Experienced hospice nurse Julie McFadden has assisted over 100 individuals in their last days. Her honest, unvarnished thoughts on death have touched a chord on the internet, particularly with people who have seen loved ones suffer the devastating consequences of a terminal disease.
The most worst way to pass away
Lou Gehrig’s disease, often known as ALS, is the one illness that McFadden isn’t afraid to label the worst.Julie said to Problem Solved last year, “This is the cruelest death I’ve ever seen.”
And the reason is easy to comprehend.Every voluntary muscle in the body gradually shuts down due to ALS. Patients gradually lose their ability to swallow, move, talk, and eventually even breathe. However, the fact that the mind remains keen makes it more terrible. People are completely conscious of what is happening, yet they are imprisoned in a dying body.
“Seeing a loved one deteriorate like that while knowing they’re still alive? One commenter remarked, “It’s devastating,” recalling her father’s struggle with the illness.
An estimated 36,300 Americans will receive an ALS diagnosis by 2030. Even though motor neuron disease (MND) is currently regarded as a relatively uncommon condition, it advances swiftly; 50% of patients will pass away within 14 months of receiving a diagnosis.
There is currently no cure for the illness, which is invariably fatal. The time frame varies greatly, though; some people experience a sharp deterioration within months, while others may survive for years following a diagnosis.
In her response on the program, TikToker Jessica Weiser added: “I knew she would say ALS.” It was the cruelest thing I’ve ever seen, and I lost my dad to it.
Last year, my brother-in-law passed away from ALS. “A terrible disease,” commented JZ.
“My grandma has ALS,” said another listener. Seeing her decline is the worst thing. I wouldn’t want anyone to experience that.
An another cruel departure: glioblastoma
Glioblastoma, an aggressive type of brain cancer that spreads quickly and strikes hard, is the second illness McFadden mentions.
According to McFadden, “it takes everything — your memory, your motor skills, your personality.” “And it does it fast.”
The dreadful signs of this cancer include convulsions, disorientation, memory loss, and excruciating migraines. Within a year and a half of their diagnosis, the majority of patients pass away. Family members frequently remark that it’s like witnessing someone vanish in real time.
Glioblastoma patients typically live 12 to 18 months after receiving a diagnosis. Less than 5 out of 100 patients survive for more than five years, and just 1 in 4 patients survive past the one-year milestone.
“He was gone before he died,” one woman wrote on social media. That is the reason it is so difficult.
surprisingly tranquil
Conversely, end-stage kidney failure might be one of the most peaceful ways to pass away, according to McFadden, particularly if dialysis is purposefully discontinued as part of end-of-life care.
Patients typically merely feel drowsy after stopping dialysis. “And they don’t wake up after that,” she says. It’s quiet. It doesn’t hurt. Additionally, it gives family time to say farewell.
That opportunity to be in charge of the process, in a loving, pain-free environment, is a gift to many. “We held his hand, played music, and he just slipped away,” someone said. In a way, it was lovely.
“My dad passed away from late-stage kidney disease,” concurred user Miharty. When he was about to leave dialysis, he halted. On his terms, we were all able to say our goodbyes. He was finished.
Why this is important
There is more to McFadden’s story than just medical information. In the last stage of life, they are about humanity, comfort, and dignity.
Discussions like this are becoming more crucial than ever as Americans struggle with how we treat the elderly and terminally sick. McFadden and other hospice professionals are frequently the only ones who are prepared to talk honestly about what dying actually looks like and how we may improve it.
Ultimately…
While death is inevitable, not all deaths are created equal. From the quiet agony of ALS to the disorderly disintegration of glioblastoma and the uncommon tranquility of renal failure, Julie McFadden’s message is unmistakable: our final moments matter.
Even the most difficult farewells can be filled with love if you have the correct support.
