Death is an inevitable part of life, but a Maryland nurse just revealed the last symptom an individual shows before taking their last breath. Katie Duncan, a nurse practitioner and self-described ‘death care coach,’ has spent years working in intensive care units, home hospices, and other end-of-life care settings.
Katie said that many patients display a common, almost mystical movement shortly before passing away—reaching upwards, as if trying to grasp something unseen. This movement reportedly looks like the person is trying to hold onto something, like the ceiling or a figure.
View this post on Instagram
Sharing her insights on TikTok, she explained, “In my experience, it’s very common to see a dying person reach upward, almost as if they are trying to touch or hold someone’s hand.” As per Ladbible, Katie spoke about the whole concept of what is known as end-of-life visions.
These visions reportedly include seeing an angel or a bright light seconds before they take their last breath. “Very commonly, it is a loved one or family member or pet, someone who has died before,” Katie added. “And the person who is dying is vocalizing that they’re seeing this person.
Yet, sometimes people don’t even say anything, and those witnessing this gesture can be left amazed. Katie described it as a deeply spiritual, even mystical, part of the dying process, which has a very strong spiritual meaning. “They don’t appear to be in pain or distress,” she said. “And these visions often leave them calm and comforted.”
Consequently, the nurse’s words resonated with a lot of TikTok users as they began leaving their personal experiences. “This is the in-between. What a privilege to witness.” Another added, “My dad reached up with both arms. Before that, he couldn’t move at all.” Others reflected on how powerful and subdued the juncture felt. “It’s heaven they’re reaching for,” someone suggested, while another said, “When I saw this, I didn’t want to interrupt. It was truly special.”
View this post on Instagram
As a ‘death care coach,’ Katie’s goal is to provide a sense of ease and let the person in their deathbed and their families adapt to the end-of-life experience, which can be quite painful and profound.
Meanwhile, as Christianity is widely followed in America, the last moments before death hold a very strong meaning. As per Pastor Lutzer, in a blog post, he mentioned his insights on the process. During visits to cemeteries, Lutzer observed how differently people approach death—some remain quite prepared, others avoid it out of fear.
He noted that early Christian scriptures embrace death as a path to peace and hope in eternal life. (For the ones following Christ, death is temporary, barring the return of Christ in scriptures as per Faith Gateway Store.) Furthermore, in a Q&A session, Pastor Lutzer highlighted that many Christians avoid talking about death and expect healing in this world. At the same time, non-believers often accept it more realistically.
Pastor Lutzer urged people to plan responsibly for the deceased, embrace the process, and not overspend on grand funerals for them out of guilt. While he prefers burial over cremation for theological reasons, he believes cremation is sometimes crucial.
Disclaimer: This article is based on secondary sources. While every effort has been made to present the information accurately, the accuracy of all religious details cannot be guaranteed.
