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Emotional Last Words Heard By Medical Staff From Patients On Their Deathbeds (30 Moments)
The final moments of life often carry immense weight and significance. For those working in the medical field, these moments can be particularly moving and, at times, haunting. The words spoken by patients in their last breaths can leave a lasting impact on the healthcare providers or family members who witness them. These words can be reflective, regretful, or even chilling, resonating deeply with those who hear them.
Recently, a thread appeared in the AskReddit community, where netizens shared some of the most emotional last words they have heard from dying people. As of today, the thread has collected 14K upvotes and almost 4k comments, revealing a variety of touching experiences from the front lines of healthcare.
More info: Reddit
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#1
Never really had any scary ones. Most of my work has been in cancer, and so they've either died in a relatively comfortable manner with palliative care or they've tended to go pretty suddenly.
My favourite was a chap who was unresponsive for a few days, woke up suddenly and asked for a Cornetto (ice cream, not a croissant). A nurse popped to the shops and got him one, he ate it, and then closed his eyes and died. Dude just had to get one last cornetto in. Legend.
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#2
A few stay with me. (Paramedic for context.)
“I think I’m going to die.”
It’s happened on more than one occasion where a patient directly tells me they are going to die and seconds later go into cardiac arrest. It’s so common that ‘a sense of impending doom’ is a legitimate symptom.
“Don’t let me die”
He arrested as we arrived at the hospital. They didn’t get pulses back. Stable on scene but declined rapidly during transport. That family had no way to know that was the last time they’d see him alive.
Me: “I’ll see you again!”
Her, smiling: “No you won’t.”
Hospice patient I had transported many times before. First name basis. We always said we would see each other again after I dropped her off. That time she replied with a simple “no you won’t”. It was the last time I ever saw her. Some people just know.
That’s what is so sacred about the medical field, really. We have this image of giving our last words to friends or family. However for many of us our last words will be delivered to the ears of a complete stranger. In those last moments I’ll be whatever you need me to be. Your child, your spouse, your friend. Whatever you say will be heard, and carried with me to the end.
#3
I was in the Army, and one of my fellow soldiers was able to call their parents on a sat phone during their death. Their last words were apologies for causing so much trouble as a teen and how they wished they could be back home to fix everything. The parents were in shock, and I had to take the phone to let them know their child was gone.
I relive this scene on repeat in my nightmares.
Among the various responses, some stories stand out for their unsettling nature, while others are more emotional and touching. One hospice worker recounted a patient who, moments before passing, kept saying “Not until they’re all here! Not until they’re all here”, hoping to be reunited with her estranged son before her passing.
Another healthcare worker shared a chilling experience when an elderly woman with dementia kept screaming “I can’t breathe, I can’t breathe, I can’t breathe, HELP ME, HELP ME”, leaving this nurse unsettled and feeling like she had failed at her job. Such experiences often leave medical professionals struggling with the mysteries of life and death, highlighting the profound and sometimes disturbing realities they face in their line of work.
#4
Not a scary moment, but a beautiful one:
I held the hand of my best friend who had metastasized breast cancer. When I kissed her cheek goodbye she had tears in her eyes and wouldn’t let go of my hand. I said “I’ll see you tomorrow, don’t be sad!” And while still clenching my hand she said through her tears “I love you, don’t you ever forget it.” She closed her eyes right then and there and passed away after her 9 year battle with cancer.
#5
When I was 11 years old, going to school friends birthday party, saw a motorcycle rider wrap himself around a telephone pole. My dad, a Vietnam vet (3x tours), got out of our Surburban, held his hand. Prayed. Then told the man he would die. Not to be afraid. Think of his loved ones. Remember how strong they know he is. To die knowing he is loved. He is on his way to his next journey. He had a well fulfilled life of love and happiness.... my dad never met the rider. The rider believed every word. His last words were bubbles...
#6
My dad had colon cancer. He said to me he didn’t want to go to sleep because he knew he wouldn’t wake up. He did die in his sleep that night.
According to an article on end-of-life rally, when a dying loved one experiences a sudden revival of energy or awareness, it can be a deeply confusing and emotional time for their family. This phenomenon, known as terminal lucidity, often gives families a fleeting sense of hope that their loved one is improving. However, it is typically a sign that the person is consciously preparing for their final journey. “Sadly, rallying is usually a hallmark pre-death sign. I have known many family caregivers, hospice aides, nurses and doctors who have seen their patients show 'improvement' before death. Some patients want to talk, while some become restless and act as if they need to start preparing for a trip,” the article relates.
Knowing about terminal lucidity can help families brace for the complex emotions that accompany these moments. It offers one last chance for meaningful connection, though it can also lead to feelings of guilt and confusion when the inevitable end comes. Understanding this can help families cherish the time left, knowing it is a natural part of the dying process.
#7
I have done hospice work, home health care, and worked in a nursing home. The best one was in a nursing home with an elderly man. We knew it was coming soon, but he has no family, so we were taking turns just being with him. He opened his eyes and smiled and said, “It’s such a lovey day. Don’t let this spoil it.” It really was a perfect Spring day; he passed about five minutes later.
The saddest was a lady in hospice care. She kept saying, “Not until they’re all here! Not until they’re all here!” The family finally admitted she had a son that she had disowned many years prior. They tried to locate him, but weren’t successful. She died crying for her boy.
#8
“Did you turn off the lights?”
Me: “no, the lights are still on.”
“That’s not funny. It’s really not fu-oh.”
I spent over 30 days in and out of the hospital in 2018 for a medical issue I had. Most of the time I had to share a room. In one room, I was with this guy in his late 50s there for some kind of serious pneumonia with complications. He was morbidly obese and had diabetes and some other health issues. We were sitting there watching jeopardy, when he said the above. As soon as he said “oh” he kinda started having trouble breathing, some gasping, a bunch of alarms went off and then out of nowhere half a dozen doctors and nurses and such were in the room. Somebody wheeled my bed out to another room. I found out later he’d died of a massive heart attack. I don’t know why he thought everything went black first. The doctor didn’t know either though she had some ideas. The head nurse, this tiny Filipina lady, said “he was dying. You don’t die all at once. Some parts die first.”
I think about that a lot. I don’t know if she’s right or not or if she meant it to be deeper than that, probably not. But “you don’t die all at once” sticks with me now.
Undercover 7 months ago
Afaik the hearing is the last sense a dying person loses. Source: a hospice worker during a training session.
#9
Dying man to his daughter, "Honey I'm sorry but I have to go.".
Nicola Mawson 7 months ago
My last words to my mom: take two Panado and go back to sleep. She was comatose when I got home from school and DoA at the hospital. Note, Panado is paracetamol in South Africa
In addition to the touching declarations and chilling words, some patients express their fear and regret in their final moments. One doctor described a patient who, right before he passed away, said "I think I did something really stupid” without ever clarifying what "something" was, leaving both the medical staff and the patient's family in a state of anxious speculation. Another story involved a patient who broke his family’s hearts by saying “I thought I had more time”, leaving us all contemplating our own lives and how we choose to spend the little time we have here. These moments underscore the emotional and psychological weight carried by those working in healthcare, as they not only provide medical care but also bear witness to the deepest fears and confessions of their patients.
#10
My grandpa’s brother’s last words were “I’m at the gate but they won’t let me in yet”. He was deeply religious, so I hope seeing those gates brought him peace.
#11
“Help me, I have four kids. Help me. Don’t let me die. Please don’t let me die.”
Edit: this was a Covid patient during the beginning of Covid before we intubated her.
#12
I have worked in the medical field for almost 20 years but the one with most impact was from my grandma. She told me my grandpa was waiting for her, she wanted to be him but most of all she was tired of seeing me so tired and not having a life anymore (for context, I had to quit working and put my life on hold for over 2 years to take of her full time). So she asked for a DNR. I signed and she became unconscious shortly and subsequently passed.
Howl's sleeping castle 7 months ago
Me and my husband quit our jobs to take care of my MIL when she was diagnosed with 4th stage cancer and was bedridden. It happened within a month of our wedding. After a year of suffering she died. Everyone told me the same thing that I am blessed and it's good karma and God will give me a good life. But I feel I am a fake. That I did all that to show that I am a good person. (And get brownie points for good karma)
According to experts, the most common regret dying people have is not having the courage to be true to themselves and live the life they actually desire, but instead living the life that someone else expected from them.
If we regret not being more present in our kids’ lives, we will likely carry that same regret for many years. If we regret choosing the comfort of our current jobs over pursuing our dreams, we’ll probably have a similar regret in the future. The key difference between now and then is that today, we have the power to change things, create the future we desire, so we don’t end up regretting our lives. We can start fresh today by asking ourselves: what do I regret right now?
#13
One patient of my mom's was an elderly man at the ER who was cursing out his wife with the final gasps of breath he could muster. His words were incoherent but you could feel they were full of anger.
We later found out he was poisoned, and the wife was likely the culprit due to an insurance fraud case.
#14
I was with my father in law when he passed. No words, just long gasping breaths like a fish out of water.
He kept trying to pull the sensor leads off of himself and leave, but he just didn’t have the energy.
He was 6’ 4” and 300 lbs of kind hearted grumpiness until the last year of his life when he must’ve weighed around 220. Cancer ate him from the inside out, slowly, painfully and relentlessly.
Greg, you tough son of a b***h, I miss you every day.
Howl's sleeping castle 7 months ago (edited)
My MIL died of cancer. She was gasping for air. It had happened before so we opened the curtains and increased the speed of the fan. (This had helped before). I asked her if she is in pain. She wasn't. Suddenly she said my husband's name twice (he was sitting, holding her hand) and stopped responding. We tried CPR but by the time the ambulance came her body was already little cold.
#15
*I want to tell everyone everything but I can't*
Panicked, pumped full of morphine.
Not sinister, just too much left unsaid.
These accounts from the AskReddit thread offer a glimpse into the often unseen side of the medical profession. The stories shared by these healthcare workers and the families of dying patients not only evoke a sense of fear and curiosity but also remind us of the profound humanity and vulnerability present in the final moments of life. As you read through these selected comments, prepare to be moved by the emotional last words of patients on the brink of death.
Which of these stories was the most touching to you? Would you like to share a moment you've experienced with us? Please do so in the comments.
#16
Elderly women was on the phone with her husband deciding on what her code status (whether or not to CPR) should be. She went into cardiac arrest mid sentence. We didn’t notice the phone when doing CPR until after she was pronounced dead. Husband listened to the entire thing.
Clown fish 7 months ago (edited)
I hope the husband got a lot of counseling and help. Listening to that isn't good
#17
“I can’t breathe, I can’t breathe, I can’t breathe, HELP ME, HELP ME”
This elderly women with dementia was air hungry but DNR/DNI & on comfort measures so we couldn’t do anything to “help” and the comfort measure supplemental oxygen we had her on wasn’t enough to sustain her & no matter how much pain medications (IV morphine) we gave she still screamed out in agony until her final breath…
It still f***s me up sometimes when i remember her.. it was just awful. i felt like I failed as a nurse that day knowing she passed with so much fear and discomfort :’(.
#18
I work as a paramedic. I had a single motorcycle crash into an electric box by a stop light. He smashed it and ended up into the wood line in a forest preserve. He was injured but not that badly. We ran it as a traumatic accident and transported to a nearby trauma center. He was awake and talking en route. As we pulled into the hospital he grabbed my hand and said “I see the light I’m dying right now.” I tried to re assure him but by the time he got into the ER he had died. The ER doc screamed at us for not having him intubated and so on. I told the doctor what happened and he immediately apologized.
ShellsBells 6 months ago (edited)
This is one of the many reasons I became an EMT before thinking about going to nursing school. Understanding prehospital care would help a nurse/doctor have some sort of awareness of what can/could happen on your way to the hospital. Edit:spelling.
#19
Wasn’t his last word, because technically he couldn’t speak. But couple days before he passed, my dad was in the hospital on a ventilator, and he wasn’t getting better. We gave him his options, which neither were good, pretty much long term care on a ventilator, or hospice, and he wrote “I thought I had more time”. That broke me.
Susie Elle 7 months ago
That's what my mom said after hearing she had cancer and was already terminal. It was heartbreaking.
#20
I volunteer with hospice and my patient had fallen and was not doing well. She wasn’t really fully awake and aware while I was there. When I went to leave she looked me in the eyes and was so “there” (not sure of a better word) and said I love you to me for the first and last time. She was just so sweet and I still miss her.
Disgruntled Pelican 7 months ago
Bless you for volunteering with hospice. My uncle was on hospice for a short period of time to give my parents a break and even at 8, I knew that those people were incredible on different level.
#21
Something light hearted to share. I work in retail pharmacy and called one of our regular patients to tell him his meds (monthly pick up) are ready for pick up. He managed to answer his cellphone and told me he’s dying and currently at a hospice then he thanked me for always preparing his meds for him. I said you’re welcome and hang up on phone. A few weeks later… he showed up at our pharmacy to pick up. I had to ask my coworkers if they are also seeing what I’m seeing. Hahaha! That was 5 years ago. Wonder if he’s still alive….
#22
Had a guy one time tell me “in about an hour and a half I’m gonna quit” proceeded to code multiple times…. Ended up pronouncing him at about an hour and a half later. I think those who are alert and are going to die know it’s coming.
Robin Roper 6 months ago
On a Friday night, after a full day of doctor appointments, my FIL who had been dealing with a series of health problems told my husband "I don't want to do this anymore. It's not fun." My husband told his dad that he didn't have to do anything he didn't want to do; it was his decision. My FIL passed 4 days later. I always knew he'd go on his own terms - he landed on Omaha Beach in the first wave of soldiers (29th Division, 116th, G Company), participated in the Incheon Invasion, and was a sniper in Vietnam before the US was officially there; he was something!
#23
I work in palliative care, so have seen a lot of deaths - most of them have been very peaceful, people are not usually conscious for the last few days - like they're asleep all the time. One that sticks out for me is a man getting the last rites, and just as the priest finished, there was an almighty boom and thunderclap and all of the lights in the hospice went out for a few seconds. The patient died minutes later.
#24
Not a healthcare worker but I was at work and a guy had a heart attack. He fell over and was having some spasms and he said" I am going to die at work " he was gone before the ambulance got there and he passed on the shop floor with a wrench in his hand.
#25
This isn't really "scary" in the way you're asking, but when I was an intern (20+ years ago now), I was discharging a patient I had a connection with from the hospital to hospice with terminal cancer. This dude had nobody in his life. I told him I'd come visit him, and his last words to me were "no you won't." But I actually did, maybe 3 weeks later. I went to the hospice house, and he had already passed away. I was wrecked. But it made me realize how fast things can change, and the impact of my last words to this dying man scared me and stuck with me.
#26
My wife, about 10 hours before she died of stomach cancer that had metastasized to her lungs and was suffocating her.
"No more!"
They put her on benzos after that and she spent the last hours unconscious.
#27
I worked in a seniors care home for many years and tended to both my parents as they were dying.
Most of the elderly would mumble stuff that I couldn't make out but one woman in particular said something like "How are you here?" (While looking at the corner of the room) a couple of hours before death. Another one told a care aide that her husband was waiting (care aide told me this just as I entered the room so I didn't hear that one first hand).
My dad didn't say anything but the smile on his face was the biggest I had seen in the years prior to his death. He named the infant baby/stillborn that he & my mom had. A brother that I didn't get the chance to grow up with.
My mom said "thank you" to me right before she died. My sister & I took her to all appointments and kept her in her home while on her death bed. She was so scared we'd put her in hospice but we wanted to respect her wishes. Hard, but worth it in my opinion.
I'm on my phone so formatting and spelling likely suck.
#28
My dad's last word was an answer to a question.
"Hospice."
He suffered a spinal stroke that paralyzed him from the neck down and he could not breathe on his own, so he was on a ventilator for two months. We were told he wasn't recovering like he should be and the term of care at the place he was at was coming to an end. We either needed to transfer him to a long term care facility, or go with hospice care. I wasn't comfortable making the decision without his input, so we got him alert enough and got a device attached to his trach tube to let him speak a little. I explained the situation and asked what he wanted to do. That one word is all he even tried to say. He was just done with it all.
I'm thankful to the nurse who helped us and him get through it all, but it's kind of scary how easily a s****y situation can just destroy someone's will to live.
Bouche and Audi and Shyla, Oh My! 7 months ago
My dad was on hospice. It gave my mom a well-needed break, and professionals she could talk to (she had been a geriatric nurse). They did the physical care Mom just wasn't able to do anymore, and made Dad as comfortable as possible.
#29
Its quite common, It would have to be elderly dying patients crying out and asking for their mama. .
TheForrestGreene (he/they/it) 7 months ago
something like this happened to my great grandmother, where she would be crying out for her parents, or for her husband, or her daughter. all of them were dead already. it was really sad
#30
Maybe the scariest thing is that a lot of people don’t get a dignified “last word” like most of the time it’s traumatic and they don’t even get to speak before it happens.
What do you think ?
and_a_touch_of_the_’tism 7 months ago
The last time I visited my nana before she died, she just hugged me, said “let me get a good look at you,” and smiled. About a week later, I got the little wooden bird I’d given her back.
Tamra 7 months ago
I'm sure you were a great source of pride and joy for her, and she had the gift of your presence and love when it mattered.
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Shine Chisholm (they/ them) 7 months ago
My grandfather's last words were to tell me to keep practicing the fiddle. He was a professional bluegrass musician, and he was living with my family up until he went. I feel terrible, often, that I didn't keep up with practicing.
LakotaWolf (she/her) 6 months ago
I wish I'd gotten to hear my dad's voice one last time before he died. I was at his bedside and holding his hand as he passed. But he'd had an accident 21 years before and had sustained catastrophic brain damage. He had been bedridden, with a feeding tube, diapers, the whole nine yards, for 21 years. I hadn't heard him speak since I was 18, when his accident happened. I'd just gotten dumped by my first boyfriend a few days before my dad's accident, so I was being a moody teenager and I don't even remember what we talked about on the day before his accident :(
and_a_touch_of_the_’tism 7 months ago
The last time I visited my nana before she died, she just hugged me, said “let me get a good look at you,” and smiled. About a week later, I got the little wooden bird I’d given her back.
Tamra 7 months ago
I'm sure you were a great source of pride and joy for her, and she had the gift of your presence and love when it mattered.
Load More Replies... Shine Chisholm (they/ them) 7 months ago
My grandfather's last words were to tell me to keep practicing the fiddle. He was a professional bluegrass musician, and he was living with my family up until he went. I feel terrible, often, that I didn't keep up with practicing.
LakotaWolf (she/her) 6 months ago
I wish I'd gotten to hear my dad's voice one last time before he died. I was at his bedside and holding his hand as he passed. But he'd had an accident 21 years before and had sustained catastrophic brain damage. He had been bedridden, with a feeding tube, diapers, the whole nine yards, for 21 years. I hadn't heard him speak since I was 18, when his accident happened. I'd just gotten dumped by my first boyfriend a few days before my dad's accident, so I was being a moody teenager and I don't even remember what we talked about on the day before his accident :(
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