Hospice Nurse's Astonishing Account of Patient's Final Walk
Dr Andrea O'Connor, a medical professional who transitioned from hospice nursing to becoming a doctor, has shared a profoundly startling incident from the early stages of her career. With a substantial following of 73,000 subscribers on her YouTube channel, Dr O'Connor regularly recounts her medical experiences, but one particular story has captured millions of views due to its extraordinary nature.
The Night Shift Assignment
Dr O'Connor explained that the event occurred years ago while she was working at a hospital in Phoenix, Arizona. As a relatively new nurse at the time, she was routinely assigned to night shifts, which is common practice for those beginning their nursing careers. On this particular evening, she received her standard patient assignment, which involved caring for eight individuals throughout her shift.
Among her patients was a man who was critically ill, suffering from kidney failure and remaining unconscious. He had not eaten for several days and was placed on a movable bed to prevent bedsores. The day shift nurse had warned Dr O'Connor that the patient was in his final stages and was likely to pass away that very night. Her primary responsibility was to ensure his comfort during these terminal hours.
The Unbelievable Midnight Scene
The patient was naked, having been placed on a pad to manage bodily outputs more easily and maintain cleanliness. However, around midnight, Dr O'Connor witnessed something that completely stunned her. While sitting at her desk in the unit, she glanced into the patient's room and saw someone walking around inside.
Rushing to investigate, she discovered it was the patient himself, who was now fully lucid and mobile. He anxiously asked her, 'Where's my bag? Where are all my things?' Dr O'Connor immediately urged him to sit down, fearing he would fall due to his weakened state after weeks in bed.
She recalled the incident vividly, stating, 'If you've been in bed for weeks, you lose the muscle strength to walk and you'll just fall. You'd need physical therapy to regain strength. It takes three days to recondition yourself.' The patient was drinking water and panicking around the room, leaving Dr O'Connor in a difficult position as she could not leave him alone to seek assistance.
The Sudden Return to Unconsciousness
Dr O'Connor managed to calm the patient by getting him to sit in a reclining chair and promising to retrieve his belongings. She then hurried to find another nurse, exclaiming, 'You're not going to believe this, but that patient, who was really ill, is awake. He's walking around his room looking for his stuff, and he's drinking water.' Emphasising that the patient had been 'at Heaven's door,' she requested immediate help.
Upon returning to the room with the other nurse, they found the patient back in his bed, unconscious once more. Dr O'Connor described the scene: 'The patient was back in his bed, exactly how he had been before—unconscious, out like a light.' She attempted to rouse him by gently touching and shaking his shoulder while calling his name, but he remained unresponsive, breathing deeply with prolonged exhalations.
The Explanation of a 'Second Wind'
The more experienced nurse explained to Dr O'Connor that this phenomenon is known as a 'second wind,' which occasionally occurs when individuals are approaching death. It involves a sudden, brief period of lucidity and energy before passing away. Dr O'Connor admitted she had 'never seen that before' and has 'never seen it to that degree since.' The patient died the following day.
Reflecting on the experience, Dr O'Connor said, 'I couldn't believe it. That was before I worked in hospice care, and it was the strangest thing—seeing that patient walk around, just before passing away.' This account highlights the mysterious and often unpredictable nature of terminal illness, offering a glimpse into the profound moments that can occur at the end of life.
