My dad had pancreatic cancer and was in hospice. He had been in a coma for two days, and very early on the last morning the nurse called and said to come now. My brother and I sat next to his bedside. I was holding his hand, singing to him, and I put his hand against my heart so he could feel it beat. I told him how much I loved him. That it was ok to go, that Marc (my deceased brother) was waiting for him, his parents were waiting for him. I was talking to him about all the things I remembered about growing up, fond memories. Suddenly, he opened his eyes wide, seemed fully alert, and gave a huge smile to me and to my brother. I was shocked because for that moment he was fully there. After that beautiful smile, he quietly slipped away. I will remember that smile for the rest of my life.

My uncle was admitted to the hospital and fell into a coma before his daughter could say goodbye. My sister convinced her to stay at the hospital and tell him all the things she would have told him if he'd been awake. She held his hand for hours and talked. Shortly before he died, he patted her hand and whispered, "Okay, Debra"--just like he used to do when she was a little kid.