Hospice nurse reveals the one big 'beautiful' sign someone is ready to embrace the end of life and it's mind-boggling
The final moments of life often remain shrouded in mystery, but one hospice nurse is helping demystify the process with her insights from years of experience. Julie McFadden, a Los Angeles-based nurse specializing in end-of-life care, shares the extraordinary moments she witnesses in her line of work on her social media. One particular sign, which she calls the "death stare," is something she describes as both common and incredibly 'beautiful' and how it reveals they are ready to go. McFadden described the experience on her YouTube channel @hospicenursejulie, explaining that she regularly encounters this phenomenon with her patients.
"If you're not familiar with the end-of-life phenomena, there are a few things that happen at the end of life to most people," she shared. She explains that the "death stare" is a moment when a person becomes fixated on a certain spot in the room, seemingly seeing something beyond what is visible to others. This often signals that someone is at peace and ready to move on. She explained, "No matter what you do—you can snap your fingers right in front of their face—they will not move their gaze." She further explained that this moment is often accompanied by another profound occurrence: visioning.
Many patients, she said, not only stare into a specific space but also begin talking to loved ones who have already passed. "Sometimes they'll have a big smile on their face, like they're seeing something that's obviously making them very happy," she added. She recalled one particular incident where she visited an elderly couple, a man in his late 90s and his wife, who had been married for 70 years. The love between them was still apparent, and despite the man’s cognitive decline, he remained cheerful and kind during their interactions. Throughout her visit, McFadden noticed something unusual. "He would be looking at me and smiling, then suddenly turn his head and be fixated on another part of the room," she described.
His expression would shift into a wide, radiant smile. No matter how she tried to get his attention during those moments, he remained engrossed in whatever was before him. Curious about what was happening, she called his wife over to witness the moment. When asked if she had noticed the same behavior, the woman responded, "Oh honey, he's been doing that for a week now." Then, she shared, "I asked him the other day what he was looking at, and he actually told me. He said ‘Jesus.'" McFadden explained that experiences like this are not uncommon. She noted that what patients see often aligns with their personal beliefs.
She said, "Many people say they see many different things and it usually depends on what religion they are. Some people see Jesus, God or angels. Others see beautiful clouds or flowers. But the great thing is, whatever they’re seeing, they are happy and smiling." Even though McFadden has encountered these types of stories countless times, she admitted that they never fail to move her. For her, these experiences reinforce why she loves her job. She left the couple’s home feeling profoundly grateful to witness such moments. "It was just so beautiful," she reflected.