1 00:00:05,320 --> 00:00:08,360 Speaker 1: Welcome to the iHeartRadio and Coast to Coast AM paranormal 2 00:00:08,400 --> 00:00:11,480 Speaker 1: podcast network. This is the place to be if you're 3 00:00:11,520 --> 00:00:15,680 Speaker 1: ready for the best podcasts of the paranormal, curious. 4 00:00:15,320 --> 00:00:18,240 Speaker 2: And sometimes unexplained. Now listen to this. 5 00:00:25,120 --> 00:00:28,440 Speaker 3: Welcome to our podcast. Please be aware the thoughts and 6 00:00:28,520 --> 00:00:32,480 Speaker 3: opinions expressed by the host are their thoughts and opinions 7 00:00:32,479 --> 00:00:37,720 Speaker 3: only and do not reflect those of iHeartMedia, iHeartRadio, Coast 8 00:00:37,720 --> 00:00:42,160 Speaker 3: to Coast AM, employees of premier networks, or their sponsors 9 00:00:42,159 --> 00:00:45,400 Speaker 3: and associates. We would like to encourage you to do 10 00:00:45,440 --> 00:00:55,840 Speaker 3: your own research and discover the subject matter for yourself. Hi. 11 00:00:56,240 --> 00:01:00,320 Speaker 3: I'm Sandra Champlain. For over twenty five years, I've been 12 00:01:00,360 --> 00:01:03,920 Speaker 3: on a journey to prove the existence of life after death. 13 00:01:04,600 --> 00:01:07,959 Speaker 3: On each episode, we'll discuss the reasons we now know 14 00:01:08,560 --> 00:01:12,160 Speaker 3: that our loved ones have survived physical death, and so 15 00:01:12,560 --> 00:01:17,160 Speaker 3: will we. Welcome to Shades of the Afterlife. Today, we're 16 00:01:17,200 --> 00:01:20,760 Speaker 3: going to honor all those kind hearted people who work 17 00:01:20,920 --> 00:01:25,080 Speaker 3: or volunteer with hospice. We're going to hear many stories 18 00:01:25,080 --> 00:01:29,480 Speaker 3: today of heavenly visitors who appear to the dying while 19 00:01:29,560 --> 00:01:33,759 Speaker 3: under hospice care, giving hope and comfort. To all that 20 00:01:33,840 --> 00:01:38,080 Speaker 3: no one dies alone and that we are indeed all 21 00:01:38,240 --> 00:01:43,200 Speaker 3: escorted into the afterlife with love. Also a special shout 22 00:01:43,200 --> 00:01:46,800 Speaker 3: out and words of acknowledgment to those of you Shades 23 00:01:46,800 --> 00:01:50,160 Speaker 3: of the Afterlife listeners who were so moved by prior 24 00:01:50,280 --> 00:01:55,640 Speaker 3: episodes that you have taken on volunteering with Hospice. Many 25 00:01:55,680 --> 00:01:58,440 Speaker 3: people have told me that one sure way to get 26 00:01:58,480 --> 00:02:01,120 Speaker 3: over the fear of dying and to know the reality 27 00:02:01,120 --> 00:02:05,000 Speaker 3: of the afterlife is to be part of hospice. So 28 00:02:05,120 --> 00:02:08,920 Speaker 3: thank you all of you who donate your time and 29 00:02:08,960 --> 00:02:12,799 Speaker 3: those who may just be inspired to do so after 30 00:02:12,840 --> 00:02:17,359 Speaker 3: this episode. Unfortunately, so many people die alone, and those 31 00:02:17,400 --> 00:02:22,000 Speaker 3: loving souls that work and volunteer with hospice really do 32 00:02:22,560 --> 00:02:26,079 Speaker 3: give people the very best care right up unto the 33 00:02:26,280 --> 00:02:30,919 Speaker 3: end of this physical existence. Cicily Saunders, who was born 34 00:02:31,000 --> 00:02:36,560 Speaker 3: back in nineteen eighteen, founded the first modern hospice and 35 00:02:37,080 --> 00:02:42,000 Speaker 3: more than anybody else, was responsible for establishing the discipline 36 00:02:42,040 --> 00:02:47,120 Speaker 3: and the culture of palliative care. She introduced effective pain 37 00:02:47,240 --> 00:02:53,640 Speaker 3: management and insisted that dying people need dignity, compassion and respect. 38 00:02:54,240 --> 00:02:58,320 Speaker 3: Saint Christopher's Hospice opened in the southwest of London back 39 00:02:58,360 --> 00:03:01,560 Speaker 3: in nineteen sixty seven. It is now one of many, 40 00:03:01,960 --> 00:03:04,560 Speaker 3: but it is still the leader in the field. It 41 00:03:04,639 --> 00:03:08,800 Speaker 3: was her personal achievement that has now been imitated all 42 00:03:08,960 --> 00:03:12,440 Speaker 3: over the world. As of twenty twenty three, there are 43 00:03:12,560 --> 00:03:17,440 Speaker 3: over eighty eight hundred hospices and palliative care centers in 44 00:03:17,520 --> 00:03:21,840 Speaker 3: the US alone, with at least another eighty five hundred 45 00:03:22,200 --> 00:03:25,240 Speaker 3: in one hundred and twenty five countries around the world. 46 00:03:25,680 --> 00:03:29,120 Speaker 3: Hospice provides the best possible quality of life for not 47 00:03:29,200 --> 00:03:34,079 Speaker 3: only patients, but families of those with six or less 48 00:03:34,360 --> 00:03:38,640 Speaker 3: months to live. Sicily Saunders introduced the idea of total 49 00:03:38,680 --> 00:03:45,320 Speaker 3: pain management, which includes physical, emotional, social, and spiritual dimensions 50 00:03:45,320 --> 00:03:50,040 Speaker 3: of distress, and hospice will do everything possible to have 51 00:03:50,120 --> 00:03:53,760 Speaker 3: the patient pain free, whether they live their final days 52 00:03:53,960 --> 00:03:57,360 Speaker 3: in a hospice care facility or in their own home. 53 00:03:57,880 --> 00:04:01,880 Speaker 3: I'd like to especially mention and the YouTube channels of 54 00:04:02,000 --> 00:04:06,880 Speaker 3: hospice nurse Julie the end Well Project, and hospice doctor 55 00:04:06,960 --> 00:04:11,320 Speaker 3: Christopher Kerr, author of Death Is But a Dream. The 56 00:04:11,360 --> 00:04:15,400 Speaker 3: current book I am reading is called Final Gifts Understanding 57 00:04:15,480 --> 00:04:19,920 Speaker 3: the Special Awareness, Needs and Communications of the Dying by 58 00:04:19,960 --> 00:04:25,200 Speaker 3: hospice nurses Maggie Callanan and Patricia Kelly. To find more 59 00:04:25,240 --> 00:04:29,760 Speaker 3: of my past episodes about these heavenly visitors that appear 60 00:04:29,920 --> 00:04:33,520 Speaker 3: by the bedside, please refer back to Shades of the 61 00:04:33,560 --> 00:04:39,920 Speaker 3: Afterlife episodes seven forty one, one twenty two, and one 62 00:04:40,080 --> 00:04:43,800 Speaker 3: fifty four. Before we get into our stories today, let's 63 00:04:43,839 --> 00:04:46,480 Speaker 3: hear a few words from doctor Christopher Kerr. 64 00:04:47,440 --> 00:04:50,320 Speaker 2: In times of illness, we are drawn closer to those 65 00:04:50,360 --> 00:04:54,680 Speaker 2: in need an endure tragedy through gestures of compassion and concern. 66 00:04:55,480 --> 00:04:58,919 Speaker 2: The global calamity of COVID nineteen has not just brought death, 67 00:04:59,320 --> 00:05:02,160 Speaker 2: It is also operated us from each other and from 68 00:05:02,200 --> 00:05:06,000 Speaker 2: those we love. As a hospice physician who spend decades 69 00:05:06,040 --> 00:05:08,760 Speaker 2: at the bedside of dying patients, I have come to 70 00:05:08,800 --> 00:05:12,640 Speaker 2: realize that no matter how physically alone patients are, few 71 00:05:12,720 --> 00:05:15,360 Speaker 2: of them die alone. End of life is more than 72 00:05:15,360 --> 00:05:19,080 Speaker 2: a medical endeavor. Dying is more than the physical manifestations 73 00:05:19,080 --> 00:05:23,040 Speaker 2: we observe. When medicine can no longer defy illness, nature 74 00:05:23,080 --> 00:05:26,680 Speaker 2: assumes its rightful place, and dying becomes what has always 75 00:05:26,760 --> 00:05:30,520 Speaker 2: been a human experience. Is not just the closing of 76 00:05:30,520 --> 00:05:34,000 Speaker 2: a life, but a meaningful vantage point that draws people 77 00:05:34,040 --> 00:05:37,880 Speaker 2: inward towards the end of life, people often recall the 78 00:05:37,920 --> 00:05:42,600 Speaker 2: best parts of living. For some, this occurs consciously through conversations. 79 00:05:43,160 --> 00:05:47,640 Speaker 2: For others, it comes unconsciously through dreams. The dying process 80 00:05:47,680 --> 00:05:51,920 Speaker 2: is about progressively deeper sleep and alternating levels of alertness. 81 00:05:52,360 --> 00:05:55,479 Speaker 2: These states are not moments of confusion or delirium, and 82 00:05:55,560 --> 00:05:59,360 Speaker 2: our studies that dying describe them as comforting subjective experiences 83 00:05:59,640 --> 00:06:02,400 Speaker 2: that bring and clarity and insight and a peaceful end 84 00:06:02,440 --> 00:06:06,760 Speaker 2: of life. These experiences include vivid dreams. At end of life, 85 00:06:06,839 --> 00:06:12,159 Speaker 2: people rarely share existential insights or exuberant pronouncements. They don't 86 00:06:12,200 --> 00:06:15,599 Speaker 2: have epiphanies. Instead, they talk of love in a way 87 00:06:15,600 --> 00:06:19,000 Speaker 2: that restores their sense of connectiveness of being made whole. 88 00:06:19,600 --> 00:06:22,559 Speaker 2: Elderly patients experience the return of the mother or father 89 00:06:22,640 --> 00:06:26,080 Speaker 2: they lost in childhood. Women cradle babies long loss to 90 00:06:26,120 --> 00:06:29,799 Speaker 2: their touch. They visualize a world where their best relationships 91 00:06:29,839 --> 00:06:33,880 Speaker 2: define their purpose and their true accomplishments. As a doctor, 92 00:06:34,279 --> 00:06:36,480 Speaker 2: I do not need to be able to explain these 93 00:06:36,560 --> 00:06:39,800 Speaker 2: end of life experiences to my patients, nor interfere medically. 94 00:06:40,520 --> 00:06:42,560 Speaker 2: I've learned to show reverence for the strength of the 95 00:06:42,640 --> 00:06:46,359 Speaker 2: human spirit in its endless quest to heal what is harmed 96 00:06:46,520 --> 00:06:50,159 Speaker 2: or broken. While we may envision ventilators and ivs, the 97 00:06:50,279 --> 00:06:54,720 Speaker 2: dying often experience love, presence, and even touch of predeceased 98 00:06:54,720 --> 00:06:58,279 Speaker 2: loved ones. They revisit the memories of being held and cherished. 99 00:06:58,600 --> 00:07:01,880 Speaker 2: The culmination of a life, rather than its demise. The 100 00:07:02,000 --> 00:07:05,000 Speaker 2: dying teach us that the best parts of having lived 101 00:07:05,000 --> 00:07:09,040 Speaker 2: are never truly lost. A lesson seems clear. The totality 102 00:07:09,080 --> 00:07:12,600 Speaker 2: of our human experience can never be defined or reduced 103 00:07:12,760 --> 00:07:13,880 Speaker 2: by its last moments. 104 00:07:14,360 --> 00:07:18,120 Speaker 3: You can find out more about doctor Kerr at doctor 105 00:07:18,200 --> 00:07:27,520 Speaker 3: Christopher Kerr dot com, spell it Dr Christopher Karr dot com. 106 00:07:27,840 --> 00:07:31,720 Speaker 3: I know for me it's exciting to hear after life stories, 107 00:07:32,160 --> 00:07:37,160 Speaker 3: near death experience stories, deathbed visitation stories. They're all great 108 00:07:37,240 --> 00:07:41,000 Speaker 3: that help us believe. But am I ready to die? 109 00:07:41,360 --> 00:07:45,080 Speaker 3: Do I want to die? The answer is no. I 110 00:07:45,080 --> 00:07:48,720 Speaker 3: think it's part of being human for us to want 111 00:07:48,720 --> 00:07:52,360 Speaker 3: to live as long as possible. We each have that 112 00:07:52,560 --> 00:07:56,800 Speaker 3: ego mind though that doesn't want us to think about 113 00:07:56,840 --> 00:07:59,880 Speaker 3: the end. Often we don't want to think about putting 114 00:08:00,160 --> 00:08:04,920 Speaker 3: will together or preparing for our last days. Or if 115 00:08:04,960 --> 00:08:08,880 Speaker 3: a loved one starts talking about their will or last wishes, 116 00:08:09,240 --> 00:08:11,520 Speaker 3: it's hard to listen to, and we may try to 117 00:08:11,560 --> 00:08:16,680 Speaker 3: deflect that. However, one reason I do these episodes is 118 00:08:16,760 --> 00:08:20,240 Speaker 3: for all of us, including myself, to be comfortable with 119 00:08:20,280 --> 00:08:23,720 Speaker 3: the fact that we're going to depart one day and 120 00:08:23,880 --> 00:08:27,160 Speaker 3: it will be okay. You know how you woke up 121 00:08:27,200 --> 00:08:30,680 Speaker 3: this morning and it was a brand new day yesterday 122 00:08:30,720 --> 00:08:33,800 Speaker 3: and the days before or somewhere in the past. Now, 123 00:08:34,280 --> 00:08:38,440 Speaker 3: the same thing will happen when we pass. We'll wake 124 00:08:38,559 --> 00:08:42,200 Speaker 3: up in the afterlife, be very excited with those we 125 00:08:42,240 --> 00:08:46,000 Speaker 3: are with, feeling young and healthy, being greeted by our 126 00:08:46,080 --> 00:08:49,280 Speaker 3: loved ones, our pets, in a world that seems so 127 00:08:49,400 --> 00:08:52,720 Speaker 3: similar to earth, but so much better, and our life 128 00:08:52,760 --> 00:08:56,640 Speaker 3: here will seem like it was just the dream. For 129 00:08:56,720 --> 00:09:00,160 Speaker 3: most people, the dying process is just like when you 130 00:09:00,240 --> 00:09:03,200 Speaker 3: snuggle into bed at night and that feeling of sleep 131 00:09:03,360 --> 00:09:06,640 Speaker 3: takes you over and the next thing happens you wake up. 132 00:09:07,120 --> 00:09:10,800 Speaker 3: Even for those who have traumatic deaths, it is said 133 00:09:11,240 --> 00:09:15,120 Speaker 3: that the soul can leave the body and not feel pain. 134 00:09:16,000 --> 00:09:19,400 Speaker 3: There are many short stories I'm going to read to 135 00:09:19,440 --> 00:09:25,880 Speaker 3: you today. Between each story, you'll hear this chime, letting 136 00:09:25,920 --> 00:09:29,800 Speaker 3: you know one story has ended and the next is beginning. 137 00:09:30,240 --> 00:09:33,920 Speaker 3: Here's our first story. My sister passed from breast cancer 138 00:09:34,040 --> 00:09:38,280 Speaker 3: in twenty and eleven. She fought so hard and didn't 139 00:09:38,360 --> 00:09:42,600 Speaker 3: understand it was the end, even two days before she died. 140 00:09:43,080 --> 00:09:45,920 Speaker 3: The night before, I was sitting on the chair at 141 00:09:45,920 --> 00:09:48,840 Speaker 3: the foot of her bed when she suddenly opened her eyes, 142 00:09:49,480 --> 00:09:53,959 Speaker 3: smiled and looked so happy. She said she saw our 143 00:09:54,120 --> 00:09:58,360 Speaker 3: dad sitting in the chair and felt so peaceful and 144 00:09:58,520 --> 00:10:01,280 Speaker 3: happy that he was with her. Dad had died in 145 00:10:01,280 --> 00:10:04,679 Speaker 3: two thousand and five. I knew then and there that 146 00:10:04,720 --> 00:10:07,559 Speaker 3: there was so much more to our lives than here 147 00:10:07,600 --> 00:10:12,560 Speaker 3: on earth. When my sweet mom was nearing death, I 148 00:10:12,679 --> 00:10:17,760 Speaker 3: visited her in hospice early one morning, and she said, oh, Richard, 149 00:10:18,160 --> 00:10:23,480 Speaker 3: I've been everywhere. I've seen everyone. I even saw Edgar. 150 00:10:24,200 --> 00:10:28,120 Speaker 3: Edgar was her little dog who had recently passed away himself, 151 00:10:28,440 --> 00:10:31,800 Speaker 3: leaving her very sad. Luckily, I was able to bring 152 00:10:31,960 --> 00:10:34,959 Speaker 3: Edgar to visit her a few days before he passed. 153 00:10:35,280 --> 00:10:40,880 Speaker 3: But now I know they are together. My wife passed 154 00:10:40,920 --> 00:10:45,600 Speaker 3: away November two, twenty twenty two. One week before. She 155 00:10:45,720 --> 00:10:49,160 Speaker 3: told me that her mom and our two dogs, who 156 00:10:49,480 --> 00:10:52,640 Speaker 3: are all deceased, were sitting on a bench at the 157 00:10:52,640 --> 00:10:55,800 Speaker 3: foot of her bed, just looking at her She asked 158 00:10:55,800 --> 00:10:58,640 Speaker 3: her mom, what are you doing here. She thought it 159 00:10:58,679 --> 00:11:02,520 Speaker 3: was funny that all she said to her was tell Mike, 160 00:11:03,120 --> 00:11:08,480 Speaker 3: that's me, not to worry. On the night before my 161 00:11:08,559 --> 00:11:12,960 Speaker 3: grandmother died, she dreamed she was being welcomed by all 162 00:11:13,080 --> 00:11:17,520 Speaker 3: the family members who had passed before her, her parents, brothers, 163 00:11:17,679 --> 00:11:21,000 Speaker 3: and sisters, et cetera. They were all so happy to 164 00:11:21,040 --> 00:11:24,520 Speaker 3: meet again. She told the nurses about the wonderful dream, 165 00:11:24,920 --> 00:11:29,880 Speaker 3: and then died a few hours later. I was the 166 00:11:29,960 --> 00:11:33,600 Speaker 3: caregiver for my sister the last three months she was 167 00:11:33,640 --> 00:11:37,840 Speaker 3: in hospice. She told me she wished I could see 168 00:11:37,920 --> 00:11:42,200 Speaker 3: everyone too. It was magnificent. She said. There was a 169 00:11:42,240 --> 00:11:46,920 Speaker 3: party for her with balloons and gifts, and everyone was 170 00:11:46,960 --> 00:11:52,600 Speaker 3: singing and dancing. She laughed and she called out, Papa, Oh, Papa, 171 00:11:52,640 --> 00:11:55,800 Speaker 3: it's so good to see you. She was happy and 172 00:11:55,960 --> 00:12:02,280 Speaker 3: never distressed. She died with a smile. My husband's uncle 173 00:12:02,559 --> 00:12:05,440 Speaker 3: was in hospice a month before he passed at the 174 00:12:05,440 --> 00:12:08,280 Speaker 3: age of eighty one. He told us his mama and 175 00:12:08,360 --> 00:12:11,680 Speaker 3: daddy were visiting him, and his mama was cooking gravy 176 00:12:11,760 --> 00:12:15,160 Speaker 3: and biscuits, and when she got them done, they were 177 00:12:15,160 --> 00:12:18,200 Speaker 3: calling him to come and eat. We all told him 178 00:12:18,240 --> 00:12:20,959 Speaker 3: that we loved him and it was okay to go 179 00:12:21,040 --> 00:12:24,680 Speaker 3: eat with them. He didn't leave yet because my sister 180 00:12:24,760 --> 00:12:28,400 Speaker 3: in law didn't agree. He was hanging on until she 181 00:12:28,559 --> 00:12:31,960 Speaker 3: told him it was okay. Finally, it was hard for 182 00:12:32,000 --> 00:12:34,920 Speaker 3: her to do so, but she told him what he 183 00:12:35,000 --> 00:12:38,600 Speaker 3: needed to do and gave him permission to go eat 184 00:12:38,679 --> 00:12:43,360 Speaker 3: biscuits and gravy. He patted her on the hand, exhaled deeply, 185 00:12:43,880 --> 00:12:47,560 Speaker 3: and he was gone. Out of all the reasons there 186 00:12:47,559 --> 00:12:51,720 Speaker 3: are to believe in the afterlife, for me personally, I 187 00:12:51,760 --> 00:12:55,839 Speaker 3: love hearing these stories about loved ones being there for 188 00:12:55,920 --> 00:12:59,400 Speaker 3: each one of us and taking us home. There's no 189 00:12:59,480 --> 00:13:03,440 Speaker 3: reason to be afraid. No one dies alone. It's time 190 00:13:03,480 --> 00:13:06,840 Speaker 3: for our break, and then we'll be back with lots 191 00:13:06,880 --> 00:13:12,199 Speaker 3: more short stories from hospice and Heavenly visitors. You're listening 192 00:13:12,240 --> 00:13:16,160 Speaker 3: to Shades of the Afterlife on the iHeartRadio and Coast 193 00:13:16,160 --> 00:13:19,480 Speaker 3: to Coast AM Paranormal Podcast Network. 194 00:13:24,360 --> 00:13:26,520 Speaker 4: Keep it here on the iHeartRadio and Coast to Coast 195 00:13:26,559 --> 00:13:30,800 Speaker 4: AM Paranormal Podcast Network. Sander Champlain will be right back. 196 00:13:38,720 --> 00:13:40,920 Speaker 3: We are happy to announce that our Coast to Coast 197 00:13:41,000 --> 00:13:46,200 Speaker 3: AM official YouTube channel has now reached over three hundred 198 00:13:46,559 --> 00:13:50,240 Speaker 3: thousand subscribers. You can listen to the first hour of 199 00:13:50,360 --> 00:13:54,560 Speaker 3: recent and past shows for free, so head on over 200 00:13:54,720 --> 00:13:58,559 Speaker 3: to the Coast to COASTAM dot com website and hit 201 00:13:58,679 --> 00:14:02,000 Speaker 3: the YouTube icon at the top of the page. This 202 00:14:02,160 --> 00:14:06,880 Speaker 3: is free show audio, so don't wait. Coast to COASTAM 203 00:14:06,920 --> 00:14:21,840 Speaker 3: dot com is where you want to be. Hi, it's 204 00:14:21,880 --> 00:14:22,520 Speaker 3: doctr sky. 205 00:14:23,320 --> 00:14:26,760 Speaker 4: Keep it right here on the iHeartRadio and Coast to 206 00:14:26,840 --> 00:14:30,560 Speaker 4: Coast AM Paranormal Podcast Network. 207 00:14:44,520 --> 00:14:47,920 Speaker 3: Welcome back to Shades of the Afterlife. I'm Sandra Champlain 208 00:14:48,480 --> 00:14:52,720 Speaker 3: and this episode is filled with short stories of heavenly 209 00:14:52,880 --> 00:14:58,160 Speaker 3: visitors that were witnessed through hospice. Here's our next story. 210 00:14:58,560 --> 00:15:01,600 Speaker 3: I sat with my friend's mother during her last days. 211 00:15:02,000 --> 00:15:05,880 Speaker 3: Although she was asleep for three days, she suddenly sat 212 00:15:06,000 --> 00:15:09,840 Speaker 3: up and with a bright smile, she said, Oh, Arthur. 213 00:15:10,520 --> 00:15:15,240 Speaker 3: It was so sweet. However, Arthur wasn't her deceased husband's name. 214 00:15:15,600 --> 00:15:18,600 Speaker 3: It was the name of her fiancee who died in 215 00:15:18,720 --> 00:15:23,160 Speaker 3: combat in World War Two, a fact not learned until 216 00:15:23,200 --> 00:15:28,800 Speaker 3: her funeral. When my mom was in hospice, she said 217 00:15:28,840 --> 00:15:32,520 Speaker 3: that my dad, uncle Howard, which was her brother, and 218 00:15:32,600 --> 00:15:36,240 Speaker 3: her aunt Julie, had come to visit. I said they did. 219 00:15:36,600 --> 00:15:40,160 Speaker 3: That's wonderful, Mom, she said, And you know what, we 220 00:15:40,360 --> 00:15:44,600 Speaker 3: ate spaghetti and mashed potatoes. She says, isn't that funny? 221 00:15:45,040 --> 00:15:46,360 Speaker 3: I said, well, that is funny. 222 00:15:46,360 --> 00:15:46,600 Speaker 2: Mom. 223 00:15:47,120 --> 00:15:51,080 Speaker 3: My mom's brother passed away five weeks before my mom did. 224 00:15:51,480 --> 00:15:54,320 Speaker 3: He lived in another state and she was too ill 225 00:15:54,360 --> 00:15:57,640 Speaker 3: to see him. I remember how she cried and said 226 00:15:57,680 --> 00:16:00,600 Speaker 3: he was supposed to wait for me. After that vision, 227 00:16:00,640 --> 00:16:03,680 Speaker 3: I said, Mom, I think you will see him soon 228 00:16:04,200 --> 00:16:10,160 Speaker 3: and have more spaghetti and mashed potatoes. The husband of 229 00:16:10,240 --> 00:16:14,360 Speaker 3: my best friend of forty five years passed away at home. 230 00:16:14,960 --> 00:16:19,160 Speaker 3: I visited him often towards the last few weeks before 231 00:16:19,200 --> 00:16:22,880 Speaker 3: he passed. He would kindly tell me which chair to 232 00:16:22,960 --> 00:16:26,320 Speaker 3: sit in. I always asked him why, and he said, 233 00:16:26,840 --> 00:16:30,360 Speaker 3: you will squish one of my dogs. He had four 234 00:16:30,440 --> 00:16:33,800 Speaker 3: dogs in his life that had all passed. He looked 235 00:16:33,840 --> 00:16:38,200 Speaker 3: out He named every one of them fondly and said 236 00:16:38,520 --> 00:16:41,680 Speaker 3: he had their leashes ready to take them on a walk. 237 00:16:42,040 --> 00:16:45,680 Speaker 3: Before this happened, he feared death, But toward the end 238 00:16:46,000 --> 00:16:50,440 Speaker 3: and seeing those dogs, he seemed ready and at peace. 239 00:16:51,040 --> 00:16:56,320 Speaker 3: Oh how he loved those dogs. My wife of fifty 240 00:16:56,360 --> 00:16:59,760 Speaker 3: six years died of Alzheimer's and cancer in two thousand 241 00:16:59,800 --> 00:17:04,520 Speaker 3: and eight eighteen. She stopped talking three weeks before her death. However, 242 00:17:04,960 --> 00:17:09,080 Speaker 3: six days before she died, she told my son and grandson, 243 00:17:09,560 --> 00:17:12,639 Speaker 3: I've got Jesus right here with me, and I'm ready 244 00:17:12,640 --> 00:17:15,800 Speaker 3: to go. Those were her last words, and she fell 245 00:17:15,800 --> 00:17:21,400 Speaker 3: into a coma and died five days later. This next 246 00:17:21,440 --> 00:17:24,200 Speaker 3: story is from the book that I'm reading called Final 247 00:17:24,400 --> 00:17:29,200 Speaker 3: Gifts from two hospice Nurses. Martha was in her early sixties, 248 00:17:29,560 --> 00:17:33,240 Speaker 3: dying of uterine cancer, which had spread throughout her pelvis. 249 00:17:33,560 --> 00:17:36,359 Speaker 3: A widow, she'd lived for many years with her daughter 250 00:17:36,560 --> 00:17:41,879 Speaker 3: and family. Martha's experience with unseen people was not very dramatic, 251 00:17:42,200 --> 00:17:46,240 Speaker 3: but her reaction was typical. She wasn't at all surprised 252 00:17:46,320 --> 00:17:49,160 Speaker 3: or upset by it, and was even able to express 253 00:17:49,320 --> 00:17:52,520 Speaker 3: her pleasure at seeing what no one else could see. 254 00:17:52,880 --> 00:17:56,199 Speaker 3: Several weeks before she died, Martha said to me, do 255 00:17:56,240 --> 00:17:58,880 Speaker 3: you know who the little girl is? Which little girl? 256 00:17:58,920 --> 00:18:01,879 Speaker 3: I asked, You know the one who comes to see me? 257 00:18:02,080 --> 00:18:05,880 Speaker 3: She said, the one the others can't see. Martha then 258 00:18:05,960 --> 00:18:10,359 Speaker 3: described several visitors unseen by others. She knew most of 259 00:18:10,400 --> 00:18:14,359 Speaker 3: them by name, her parents and sisters, all of whom 260 00:18:14,400 --> 00:18:18,680 Speaker 3: were dead, but couldn't identify a child who appeared with them. 261 00:18:19,119 --> 00:18:22,080 Speaker 3: But that didn't bother her. Don't worry, she told me. 262 00:18:22,600 --> 00:18:25,440 Speaker 3: I'll figure it out before I go, or I'll find 263 00:18:25,440 --> 00:18:28,200 Speaker 3: out when I get there. Have you seen them? No, 264 00:18:28,280 --> 00:18:30,760 Speaker 3: I haven't, I said, but I believe that you do. 265 00:18:31,160 --> 00:18:33,840 Speaker 3: Are they here now they left a little while ago, 266 00:18:34,119 --> 00:18:37,119 Speaker 3: Martha said, they don't stay all the time. They just 267 00:18:37,200 --> 00:18:39,920 Speaker 3: come and go. What is it like when they're here, 268 00:18:40,080 --> 00:18:43,959 Speaker 3: I asked, Well, sometimes we talk, but usually I just 269 00:18:44,119 --> 00:18:47,320 Speaker 3: know that they're here, Martha said. I know that they 270 00:18:47,400 --> 00:18:49,960 Speaker 3: love me and that they'll be here with me when 271 00:18:50,040 --> 00:18:54,120 Speaker 3: it's time. When it's time, I said, when I die, 272 00:18:54,600 --> 00:18:59,719 Speaker 3: Martha said, matter of factly. In most cases, the people 273 00:19:00,119 --> 00:19:04,440 Speaker 3: seen our dead relatives or friends. But sometimes people will 274 00:19:04,720 --> 00:19:08,480 Speaker 3: tell of seeing an angel or God or some other 275 00:19:08,680 --> 00:19:12,480 Speaker 3: religious figure. One man said he'd seen the Lord's face. 276 00:19:12,880 --> 00:19:16,160 Speaker 3: Another said there was an angel standing by my bed. 277 00:19:16,760 --> 00:19:20,680 Speaker 3: Neither of them, nor any of the other people who 278 00:19:20,720 --> 00:19:25,400 Speaker 3: reported seeing these spiritual beings were upset. They were usually 279 00:19:25,480 --> 00:19:29,520 Speaker 3: calm as they talked about it, and seemed comforted and 280 00:19:29,640 --> 00:19:33,679 Speaker 3: more peaceful in the presence of their invisible visitors. We 281 00:19:33,880 --> 00:19:38,159 Speaker 3: wondered if people spoke about spiritual or religious beings because 282 00:19:38,200 --> 00:19:42,200 Speaker 3: they were conditioned to expect them by their religious beliefs, 283 00:19:42,400 --> 00:19:46,400 Speaker 3: particularly if the person believed in a life after death. 284 00:19:46,840 --> 00:19:49,880 Speaker 3: We were also concerned that we might be projecting our 285 00:19:49,920 --> 00:19:55,720 Speaker 3: own beliefs and expectations onto these situations. Because of our concerns, 286 00:19:55,920 --> 00:20:01,000 Speaker 3: we were particularly interested in the following situation. So here's 287 00:20:01,040 --> 00:20:05,600 Speaker 3: the story of Angela. Angela was a delightful musician dying 288 00:20:05,640 --> 00:20:09,639 Speaker 3: of melanoma at twenty five. When she entered the hospice 289 00:20:09,720 --> 00:20:14,280 Speaker 3: inpatient unit, her parents, three young brothers, and several close 290 00:20:14,359 --> 00:20:18,200 Speaker 3: friends seemed to move in with her. Her parents took 291 00:20:18,280 --> 00:20:21,160 Speaker 3: turns spending the night in her room. During the day, 292 00:20:21,320 --> 00:20:25,760 Speaker 3: a small crowd gathered there. The melanoma had started as 293 00:20:25,800 --> 00:20:29,680 Speaker 3: a mole on her arm, then spread. Many of her 294 00:20:29,960 --> 00:20:34,760 Speaker 3: more incapacitating symptoms resulted from its effect on her brain. 295 00:20:35,320 --> 00:20:39,400 Speaker 3: Her left side was paralyzed, She was blind and too 296 00:20:39,480 --> 00:20:43,560 Speaker 3: weak to get out of bed, but Angela still could 297 00:20:43,640 --> 00:20:47,280 Speaker 3: speak and was by no means helpless. The day she 298 00:20:47,400 --> 00:20:50,919 Speaker 3: was admitted to the unit, she said firmly, I know 299 00:20:51,080 --> 00:20:54,240 Speaker 3: about you hospice people. I don't want any of that 300 00:20:54,440 --> 00:20:59,880 Speaker 3: spiritual stuff, no prayers, no chaplains. That's not my thing. 301 00:21:00,640 --> 00:21:04,320 Speaker 3: I'm an atheist. I don't believe in God or heaven. 302 00:21:05,160 --> 00:21:08,840 Speaker 3: The staff respected Angela's position, but her mother found it 303 00:21:08,920 --> 00:21:13,080 Speaker 3: very difficult. A devout Catholic, she couldn't accept her daughter's 304 00:21:13,119 --> 00:21:16,919 Speaker 3: rejection of God and the faith she'd been raised in. 305 00:21:17,440 --> 00:21:20,639 Speaker 3: All the other kids believe in God and go to church, 306 00:21:20,880 --> 00:21:23,800 Speaker 3: the mother said, we don't know what happened with Angela. 307 00:21:24,119 --> 00:21:26,840 Speaker 3: We raised them all the same, but it never took 308 00:21:26,880 --> 00:21:30,879 Speaker 3: with her. One dark, chilly morning, I responded to Angela's 309 00:21:30,880 --> 00:21:33,919 Speaker 3: call bell. Her mother had spent the night, and she 310 00:21:34,119 --> 00:21:38,080 Speaker 3: stirred on the cot as I pushed open the door. Hi, Angela, 311 00:21:38,440 --> 00:21:41,240 Speaker 3: what can I do for you? I said, did someone 312 00:21:41,280 --> 00:21:43,920 Speaker 3: come in here to see me? She said, I don't 313 00:21:44,040 --> 00:21:47,600 Speaker 3: think so. I didn't see anyone. It's not even don 314 00:21:47,680 --> 00:21:50,480 Speaker 3: yet and there's no one around. I said, why do 315 00:21:50,560 --> 00:21:55,600 Speaker 3: you ask? I saw an angel? She said. I sat 316 00:21:55,640 --> 00:21:58,880 Speaker 3: on the bed. Tell me what happened? I said, when 317 00:21:58,880 --> 00:22:01,639 Speaker 3: I woke up, there was an angel sitting in the 318 00:22:01,720 --> 00:22:05,000 Speaker 3: light from the window. Angela said, with a smile on 319 00:22:05,080 --> 00:22:08,919 Speaker 3: her face. She described feeling very drawn toward this being 320 00:22:09,200 --> 00:22:13,480 Speaker 3: who exuded warmth, love, and caring. Her mother jumped off 321 00:22:13,480 --> 00:22:17,320 Speaker 3: the cot. Angela, it's a sign from God, she said, Mother, 322 00:22:17,600 --> 00:22:21,840 Speaker 3: I don't believe in God, Angela said, now exasperated, that 323 00:22:21,880 --> 00:22:24,639 Speaker 3: doesn't matter. Her mother said, you've seen God or at 324 00:22:24,720 --> 00:22:28,040 Speaker 3: least a messenger from God. Does it matter who it is? 325 00:22:28,359 --> 00:22:32,199 Speaker 3: Angela snapped. Isn't it enough to know that someone so 326 00:22:32,400 --> 00:22:37,359 Speaker 3: loving and caring is waiting for me? Angela, what do 327 00:22:37,400 --> 00:22:40,199 Speaker 3: you think it means? I asked. I don't believe in 328 00:22:40,240 --> 00:22:44,920 Speaker 3: angels or God, but someone was here with me. Whoever 329 00:22:44,960 --> 00:22:49,080 Speaker 3: it was, loves me and I know is waiting for me, 330 00:22:49,640 --> 00:22:52,919 Speaker 3: So it means I won't die alone, she said, the 331 00:22:53,000 --> 00:22:56,720 Speaker 3: smile returning to her face. Her mother's eyes filled with 332 00:22:56,840 --> 00:23:00,479 Speaker 3: tears and she put her arms around her daughter. Darling, 333 00:23:00,520 --> 00:23:03,000 Speaker 3: it doesn't matter who it is, she said, I'm just 334 00:23:03,040 --> 00:23:08,119 Speaker 3: so pleased this happened. Later, outside Angela's room, her mother said, 335 00:23:08,720 --> 00:23:11,320 Speaker 3: I know it was either God or an angel, and 336 00:23:11,400 --> 00:23:15,000 Speaker 3: she insists it can't be you know how stubborn she is. 337 00:23:15,400 --> 00:23:18,920 Speaker 3: But what matters most is that this happened. She had 338 00:23:18,960 --> 00:23:22,880 Speaker 3: realized her daughter's fear of the loneliness of death was 339 00:23:23,080 --> 00:23:27,640 Speaker 3: alleviated by the knowledge of that loving presence waiting for her. 340 00:23:28,280 --> 00:23:32,840 Speaker 3: That's from the book Final Gifts, Understanding the special awareness, 341 00:23:33,400 --> 00:23:38,280 Speaker 3: needs and Communications of the Dying by hospice nurses Maggie 342 00:23:38,720 --> 00:23:42,080 Speaker 3: Klanan and Patricia Kelly. There'll be more stories from the 343 00:23:42,119 --> 00:23:47,840 Speaker 3: book before we're done today. Here's our next story. My 344 00:23:47,920 --> 00:23:51,160 Speaker 3: mother was dying of cancer and she said she saw 345 00:23:51,200 --> 00:23:54,920 Speaker 3: her dad, who died three years prior. When my grandmother 346 00:23:55,040 --> 00:23:58,640 Speaker 3: was dying. I saw her looking at the ceiling from 347 00:23:58,640 --> 00:24:02,040 Speaker 3: one side to the other side with her eyes open 348 00:24:02,160 --> 00:24:06,440 Speaker 3: wide and smiling. She asked me, do you see those angels? 349 00:24:07,000 --> 00:24:10,639 Speaker 3: I said no. She blinked and kept looking and kept 350 00:24:10,720 --> 00:24:14,119 Speaker 3: asking me if I saw the angels. It was very 351 00:24:14,359 --> 00:24:20,320 Speaker 3: comforting that she saw the angels before she passed. My 352 00:24:20,400 --> 00:24:24,359 Speaker 3: grandmother and relatives were telling me about my granddad talking 353 00:24:24,359 --> 00:24:28,359 Speaker 3: to three angels weeks up to his death. As time 354 00:24:28,400 --> 00:24:31,639 Speaker 3: went on, there were just two angels, and during his 355 00:24:31,760 --> 00:24:34,880 Speaker 3: last day in the hospital, the nurses were watching him 356 00:24:34,920 --> 00:24:37,720 Speaker 3: speak and say to one of them, I will see 357 00:24:37,760 --> 00:24:41,680 Speaker 3: you soon. He told my grandmother that there was only 358 00:24:41,920 --> 00:24:46,240 Speaker 3: one angel left now. However, my granddad had told my 359 00:24:46,280 --> 00:24:49,439 Speaker 3: grandmother that the angel who was at the end of 360 00:24:49,480 --> 00:24:52,200 Speaker 3: his bed is going to leave soon and is going 361 00:24:52,240 --> 00:24:55,399 Speaker 3: to take him with them, and the angel said that 362 00:24:55,480 --> 00:24:58,520 Speaker 3: it is time for everyone to come and say goodbye. 363 00:24:59,000 --> 00:25:02,679 Speaker 3: Everyone came to the hospital, and within minutes of the 364 00:25:02,800 --> 00:25:06,520 Speaker 3: last person entering the room, he said that the angel 365 00:25:06,600 --> 00:25:13,000 Speaker 3: said it is time, and Grandad died peacefully. My mom 366 00:25:13,119 --> 00:25:16,120 Speaker 3: passed away earlier this year. She was at the end 367 00:25:16,240 --> 00:25:20,119 Speaker 3: of a terrible battle with cancer. She couldn't speak anymore 368 00:25:20,560 --> 00:25:24,439 Speaker 3: and could only moan sometimes, but there were a few 369 00:25:24,520 --> 00:25:27,199 Speaker 3: times close to the end that she'd look to the 370 00:25:27,240 --> 00:25:31,560 Speaker 3: window with her hands raised towards it, and she'd call 371 00:25:31,640 --> 00:25:35,560 Speaker 3: out for her dad, who passed twenty nine years ago. 372 00:25:35,720 --> 00:25:42,480 Speaker 3: She'd call clearly Papa a few times, A Pa means Papa. 373 00:25:45,040 --> 00:25:47,640 Speaker 3: I was at the bedside of my mother when she passed. 374 00:25:48,160 --> 00:25:51,480 Speaker 3: At first her eyes were glazed over, and then all 375 00:25:51,520 --> 00:25:54,160 Speaker 3: of a sudden, she looked up to the right, then 376 00:25:54,200 --> 00:25:57,760 Speaker 3: to the left, then focused on something. We all looked 377 00:25:57,800 --> 00:26:00,520 Speaker 3: as well to see what she was looking at. Her 378 00:26:00,560 --> 00:26:04,600 Speaker 3: eyes gradually followed whatever it was down to the foot 379 00:26:04,600 --> 00:26:08,080 Speaker 3: of her bed, then to her right side. She reached 380 00:26:08,080 --> 00:26:12,360 Speaker 3: out her hand, smiled, and then she passed. My favorite 381 00:26:12,440 --> 00:26:16,760 Speaker 3: quote is from author Richard bach don't be dismayed at goodbyes. 382 00:26:17,520 --> 00:26:21,359 Speaker 3: A farewell is necessary before we may meet again, but 383 00:26:21,520 --> 00:26:26,919 Speaker 3: meeting again after moments or lifetimes is certain for those 384 00:26:27,200 --> 00:26:31,080 Speaker 3: who are friends. That always makes me smile and makes 385 00:26:31,119 --> 00:26:35,480 Speaker 3: me know that whoever we love while we're here on earth, 386 00:26:35,760 --> 00:26:39,160 Speaker 3: we will see them again. And don't be surprised if 387 00:26:39,200 --> 00:26:42,920 Speaker 3: they're your heavenly visitor here to take you to your 388 00:26:43,000 --> 00:26:46,000 Speaker 3: real home. Let's go to the break and we'll be 389 00:26:46,080 --> 00:26:49,359 Speaker 3: back with more stories. You're listening to Shades of the 390 00:26:49,400 --> 00:26:54,120 Speaker 3: Afterlife on the iHeartRadio and Coast to Coast AM Paranormal 391 00:26:54,320 --> 00:26:58,240 Speaker 3: Podcast Network. 392 00:27:03,880 --> 00:27:04,800 Speaker 4: Don't go anywhere. 393 00:27:04,960 --> 00:27:13,040 Speaker 2: There's more Shades of the Afterlife coming right up. The 394 00:27:13,040 --> 00:27:15,120 Speaker 2: best afterlife information you can get. 395 00:27:15,440 --> 00:27:19,600 Speaker 3: Well, you're a long Shades of the Afterlife with Sander Champlain. 396 00:27:24,160 --> 00:27:27,119 Speaker 4: Hi, this is ufologist Kevin Randall and you're listening to 397 00:27:27,200 --> 00:27:31,000 Speaker 4: the iHeartRadio and Coast to Coast AM Paranormal Podcast Network. 398 00:27:47,200 --> 00:27:50,720 Speaker 3: Welcome back to Shades of the Afterlife. I'm Sander Champlain. 399 00:27:51,160 --> 00:27:55,360 Speaker 3: We will continue with stories from hospice. Here's a story 400 00:27:55,480 --> 00:27:59,679 Speaker 3: from Tracy. She says, I'm a hospice nurse, but this 401 00:27:59,760 --> 00:28:03,640 Speaker 3: story is about my own father. He passed away suddenly 402 00:28:03,720 --> 00:28:07,280 Speaker 3: at the age of sixty three, thirty two years ago. 403 00:28:07,680 --> 00:28:10,280 Speaker 3: Because I'm a nurse, I wanted to dress him for 404 00:28:10,320 --> 00:28:13,760 Speaker 3: his week and make sure everything was perfect. He was 405 00:28:14,080 --> 00:28:17,840 Speaker 3: always a well dressed man. So after I convinced the 406 00:28:17,880 --> 00:28:21,320 Speaker 3: funeral director that I would be just fine fussing with 407 00:28:21,400 --> 00:28:25,800 Speaker 3: his suit, shoes, et cetera, the funeral director left me 408 00:28:25,880 --> 00:28:29,359 Speaker 3: alone in the room. Soon I became aware of a 409 00:28:29,400 --> 00:28:33,359 Speaker 3: maintenance man sweeping slowly in the back of the room. 410 00:28:33,840 --> 00:28:37,040 Speaker 3: At the time, I thought, how sweet they are just 411 00:28:37,080 --> 00:28:41,320 Speaker 3: making sure I am okay. After I finished making sure 412 00:28:41,800 --> 00:28:45,160 Speaker 3: Dad's shoes were polished and that he had change in 413 00:28:45,200 --> 00:28:49,240 Speaker 3: his pocket. He always had to have change, I kissed 414 00:28:49,280 --> 00:28:52,720 Speaker 3: him goodbye and went to thank the director. I also 415 00:28:52,840 --> 00:28:55,920 Speaker 3: thanked him for the maintenance man in the room because 416 00:28:56,240 --> 00:28:59,640 Speaker 3: he did make me feel more at ease. He looked 417 00:28:59,640 --> 00:29:04,000 Speaker 3: at his mortician and then said, there was nobody here 418 00:29:04,440 --> 00:29:08,760 Speaker 3: but us. Here's the kicker. My dad always told us 419 00:29:08,880 --> 00:29:12,040 Speaker 3: kids that no matter what, even if you chose to 420 00:29:12,080 --> 00:29:15,320 Speaker 3: be a broom pusher, be the best damn broom pusher 421 00:29:15,600 --> 00:29:18,880 Speaker 3: that ever was. I believe who I saw was my 422 00:29:19,080 --> 00:29:22,640 Speaker 3: Dad's spirit pushing that broom in the room with me. 423 00:29:23,160 --> 00:29:29,680 Speaker 3: I do believe in miracles. I was a hospice nurse 424 00:29:29,720 --> 00:29:34,560 Speaker 3: for fifteen years. Hospice is a journey. Some patients saw 425 00:29:34,680 --> 00:29:38,880 Speaker 3: their loved ones who had passed on. One lady lost 426 00:29:38,960 --> 00:29:42,479 Speaker 3: all of her five children in a fire. Just before 427 00:29:42,520 --> 00:29:46,360 Speaker 3: she died, she told her husband that all of their 428 00:29:46,480 --> 00:29:49,440 Speaker 3: children were standing at the end of her bed and 429 00:29:49,480 --> 00:29:52,600 Speaker 3: that she had to go and be with them. She 430 00:29:52,760 --> 00:29:58,320 Speaker 3: smiled and then took her last breath. When my father 431 00:29:58,480 --> 00:30:02,480 Speaker 3: died in nineteen ninety, he had suffered for years from 432 00:30:02,560 --> 00:30:06,040 Speaker 3: complications of diabetes. By the end of his days, he 433 00:30:06,160 --> 00:30:12,280 Speaker 3: was blind, had both legs amputated, underwent hemo dialysis, and 434 00:30:12,920 --> 00:30:16,800 Speaker 3: had not spoken for months. At lunchtime on a Thursday, 435 00:30:17,160 --> 00:30:20,160 Speaker 3: my mother and I were home when he suddenly began 436 00:30:20,240 --> 00:30:24,080 Speaker 3: to cry and call my name. Arriving at his bed, 437 00:30:24,440 --> 00:30:26,880 Speaker 3: he said to me, they are calling me to go 438 00:30:27,000 --> 00:30:31,880 Speaker 3: with them because this body no longer fits. So I 439 00:30:31,960 --> 00:30:36,280 Speaker 3: asked Dad, who are they? And he said my mother 440 00:30:36,600 --> 00:30:40,800 Speaker 3: and my father. Those were my grandparents he was looking at, 441 00:30:41,160 --> 00:30:46,040 Speaker 3: who died several decades before. The next day, my father died. 442 00:30:48,800 --> 00:30:51,800 Speaker 3: I was a volunteer helper for hospice. I would go 443 00:30:51,840 --> 00:30:54,840 Speaker 3: to the homes of patients and give the families some 444 00:30:55,000 --> 00:30:59,600 Speaker 3: relief to run their errands, take a break, etc. While 445 00:30:59,640 --> 00:31:03,840 Speaker 3: I watched their loved one. One case involved a ninety 446 00:31:03,920 --> 00:31:08,000 Speaker 3: year old man very close to death. While sitting with him, 447 00:31:08,400 --> 00:31:12,760 Speaker 3: he suddenly bolted upright, looked around his bed and said 448 00:31:12,760 --> 00:31:17,000 Speaker 3: to me, with his eyes bright and shining, they're all here. 449 00:31:17,640 --> 00:31:20,280 Speaker 3: They tell me the party is going on, and they 450 00:31:20,360 --> 00:31:23,800 Speaker 3: came to get me. He started calling out names of men, 451 00:31:24,360 --> 00:31:30,440 Speaker 3: interspersing them with loud cowboy type woos. Then he finally 452 00:31:30,520 --> 00:31:35,040 Speaker 3: fell silent, eyes closed, and he had the biggest smile 453 00:31:35,160 --> 00:31:38,400 Speaker 3: on his face. I had written down all that he 454 00:31:38,440 --> 00:31:42,160 Speaker 3: had said at the request of his son. Later, when 455 00:31:42,160 --> 00:31:45,520 Speaker 3: the sun returned, he told me that the names were 456 00:31:45,560 --> 00:31:50,000 Speaker 3: his father's best friends, fellow cowboys that had worked on 457 00:31:50,040 --> 00:31:54,800 Speaker 3: a cattle ranch out west for years. They had all 458 00:31:54,920 --> 00:31:58,520 Speaker 3: passed away. I can't tell you how much joy it 459 00:31:58,640 --> 00:32:02,600 Speaker 3: gave the sun to think that his father's friends had 460 00:32:02,640 --> 00:32:05,840 Speaker 3: come for him to take him to the cowboy party. 461 00:32:08,120 --> 00:32:12,840 Speaker 3: One of my grandmothers died in hospice after a brief illness. 462 00:32:13,440 --> 00:32:17,960 Speaker 3: Her daughter and her daughter's husband, aunt and uncle were 463 00:32:18,000 --> 00:32:21,480 Speaker 3: with her as much as possible. My grandma looked up 464 00:32:21,600 --> 00:32:24,720 Speaker 3: toward a corner of the room and had a beautiful 465 00:32:24,760 --> 00:32:28,160 Speaker 3: smile on her face. My aunt asked her what she 466 00:32:28,280 --> 00:32:32,160 Speaker 3: was looking at, and my grandma said, I see Jesus 467 00:32:32,720 --> 00:32:36,760 Speaker 3: and my whole family. My grandma was the youngest of 468 00:32:36,920 --> 00:32:40,360 Speaker 3: seven children, and she was the last one in her 469 00:32:40,440 --> 00:32:46,200 Speaker 3: family to die. My aunt and I were very close, 470 00:32:46,920 --> 00:32:50,800 Speaker 3: and she dreamt often of deceased family members who were 471 00:32:50,840 --> 00:32:54,480 Speaker 3: around her. In her final dream, she saw a tall, 472 00:32:54,920 --> 00:33:00,280 Speaker 3: dark haired, handsome man stand up strong amongst them. She 473 00:33:00,400 --> 00:33:04,080 Speaker 3: needed no words, she knew it was my son who 474 00:33:04,120 --> 00:33:07,640 Speaker 3: passed away this year. He was no longer in his wheelchair. 475 00:33:08,080 --> 00:33:13,600 Speaker 3: He was completely healed. I remember a patient who was 476 00:33:13,720 --> 00:33:17,120 Speaker 3: never very talkative, and it was very difficult to get 477 00:33:17,160 --> 00:33:20,080 Speaker 3: even a smile out of him. Not because he was 478 00:33:20,120 --> 00:33:23,760 Speaker 3: in pain or seriously ill, that was just his style. 479 00:33:24,280 --> 00:33:27,200 Speaker 3: One day, he was looking up towards the ceiling and 480 00:33:27,320 --> 00:33:31,640 Speaker 3: he was smiling his head off. He looked so happy. 481 00:33:31,960 --> 00:33:35,040 Speaker 3: I asked him if he was okay. He barely moved 482 00:33:35,040 --> 00:33:38,640 Speaker 3: his head, but he said yes. I went into the 483 00:33:38,680 --> 00:33:42,120 Speaker 3: supply room only for a brief moment, and when I 484 00:33:42,240 --> 00:33:46,640 Speaker 3: came out, he had died. But I will always remember 485 00:33:46,960 --> 00:33:50,600 Speaker 3: the sheer look of joy on his face. I believe 486 00:33:50,680 --> 00:33:56,040 Speaker 3: he was seeing something or someone which made him so happy. 487 00:33:58,640 --> 00:34:02,120 Speaker 3: Four days before my eighty nine year old father passed away, 488 00:34:02,640 --> 00:34:06,840 Speaker 3: I saw him raise his right hand and say, I'm coming, Mom. 489 00:34:07,320 --> 00:34:10,640 Speaker 3: Be patient, I'll be there soon. I'll be there in 490 00:34:10,719 --> 00:34:14,880 Speaker 3: four days. And four days later he passed. My father 491 00:34:15,440 --> 00:34:19,280 Speaker 3: really loved his mother, and it gave me great comfort 492 00:34:19,320 --> 00:34:24,319 Speaker 3: knowing that she was there to greet him. I had 493 00:34:24,360 --> 00:34:28,560 Speaker 3: a patient who was actively dying. As her nurse, I 494 00:34:28,680 --> 00:34:32,279 Speaker 3: stayed by her side and comforted her as much as 495 00:34:32,280 --> 00:34:36,400 Speaker 3: I could. After about twenty minutes, she began to wave 496 00:34:36,880 --> 00:34:40,360 Speaker 3: towards the corner of the room. She had this big 497 00:34:40,400 --> 00:34:45,880 Speaker 3: smile with glow and joy. She grabbed my hand and said, look, 498 00:34:46,280 --> 00:34:49,680 Speaker 3: say hello to my mom. She began reaching her arms 499 00:34:49,680 --> 00:34:52,520 Speaker 3: out to the empty corner of the room. She died 500 00:34:52,880 --> 00:34:58,440 Speaker 3: within the hour. My grandmother had a massive heart attack. 501 00:34:59,000 --> 00:35:02,480 Speaker 3: She was dead for a few moments before being revived 502 00:35:03,040 --> 00:35:06,520 Speaker 3: A few weeks later. When she was finally able to speak, 503 00:35:07,000 --> 00:35:10,840 Speaker 3: she told us she saw her deceased parents, her brothers, 504 00:35:11,120 --> 00:35:16,120 Speaker 3: her sisters, her first husband, and her friends all sitting 505 00:35:16,160 --> 00:35:20,000 Speaker 3: around a big card table playing poker. They turned to 506 00:35:20,080 --> 00:35:23,720 Speaker 3: her and they told her they couldn't deal her in yet. 507 00:35:26,120 --> 00:35:29,319 Speaker 3: When my best friend was dying of cancer, she was 508 00:35:29,400 --> 00:35:32,520 Speaker 3: putting up a good fight. She didn't want to die. 509 00:35:32,960 --> 00:35:36,279 Speaker 3: She was still a young sixty years old. The day 510 00:35:36,320 --> 00:35:40,319 Speaker 3: before her body gave out, she became at peace. She 511 00:35:40,360 --> 00:35:43,640 Speaker 3: stopped fighting and said, I love you all, but my 512 00:35:43,760 --> 00:35:48,880 Speaker 3: dad's here and I'm going to go with him. The 513 00:35:48,960 --> 00:35:52,799 Speaker 3: last words my father said before his death were I 514 00:35:52,880 --> 00:35:56,319 Speaker 3: have to go now. My parents are here sitting next 515 00:35:56,320 --> 00:35:58,439 Speaker 3: to me on the bed, and they want to take 516 00:35:58,480 --> 00:36:03,600 Speaker 3: me somewhere very peaceful and relaxed. And then he died. 517 00:36:06,200 --> 00:36:09,719 Speaker 3: My dad was in hospice back in nineteen ninety four 518 00:36:10,160 --> 00:36:12,560 Speaker 3: and was in a comatose state for a few weeks 519 00:36:12,800 --> 00:36:15,960 Speaker 3: before he passed away. On the day that he passed, 520 00:36:16,480 --> 00:36:19,200 Speaker 3: he was holding his arm up toward the corner of 521 00:36:19,280 --> 00:36:22,600 Speaker 3: the ceiling and I thought he was waking up. I 522 00:36:22,640 --> 00:36:26,360 Speaker 3: called out to him, but he never responded. He smiled 523 00:36:26,800 --> 00:36:30,560 Speaker 3: and spoke in a very soft voice to whoever it 524 00:36:30,680 --> 00:36:33,839 Speaker 3: was he was seeing before his arm dropped, and then 525 00:36:33,920 --> 00:36:39,040 Speaker 3: twenty five minutes later he passed away. Then two months 526 00:36:39,160 --> 00:36:42,480 Speaker 3: later he came to me in a dream, telling me 527 00:36:42,920 --> 00:36:46,600 Speaker 3: how light he felt. He was flapping his arms like 528 00:36:46,680 --> 00:36:50,319 Speaker 3: a chicken flaps their wings. He said he felt very 529 00:36:50,440 --> 00:36:55,360 Speaker 3: light and it was just wonderful. He also stated that 530 00:36:55,440 --> 00:36:58,320 Speaker 3: he never had time to tell me that he left 531 00:36:58,520 --> 00:37:02,400 Speaker 3: five thousand dollars and his top dresser drawer in his 532 00:37:02,560 --> 00:37:05,880 Speaker 3: room for me and my wife and two small children. 533 00:37:05,960 --> 00:37:08,800 Speaker 3: At the time. I woke up and told my wife 534 00:37:09,120 --> 00:37:12,520 Speaker 3: about the dream with my dad. Then I told her 535 00:37:12,520 --> 00:37:15,560 Speaker 3: about the money he said he left for us. So 536 00:37:15,840 --> 00:37:18,360 Speaker 3: we both got out of bed and went into his 537 00:37:18,480 --> 00:37:22,960 Speaker 3: room and opened his top dresser drawer. I took out 538 00:37:23,000 --> 00:37:25,640 Speaker 3: all of the papers in the books, and at the 539 00:37:25,680 --> 00:37:29,480 Speaker 3: bottom of the drawer was a white envelope with our 540 00:37:29,600 --> 00:37:34,399 Speaker 3: names on it. I opened the envelope and counted out 541 00:37:34,480 --> 00:37:41,040 Speaker 3: exactly five thousand dollars in cash. Needless to say, I 542 00:37:41,120 --> 00:37:44,440 Speaker 3: nearly passed out. And ever since that day, I have 543 00:37:44,520 --> 00:37:49,759 Speaker 3: had a fascination with life after death. I know for 544 00:37:49,840 --> 00:37:54,840 Speaker 3: a fact life goes on. My mom just passed away 545 00:37:54,880 --> 00:37:58,239 Speaker 3: in her sleep at the age of ninety one, and 546 00:37:58,320 --> 00:38:00,760 Speaker 3: I took care of her for about two twenty years 547 00:38:01,120 --> 00:38:04,920 Speaker 3: after her health started failing. The things that have happened 548 00:38:04,920 --> 00:38:09,840 Speaker 3: after she passed are amazing too. Life definitely does go on, 549 00:38:10,360 --> 00:38:14,120 Speaker 3: and I look forward to one day seeing my mom 550 00:38:14,280 --> 00:38:20,000 Speaker 3: and dad again. I worked as an oncology nurse at 551 00:38:20,160 --> 00:38:23,719 Speaker 3: a children's hospital in the nineties. One night I was 552 00:38:23,800 --> 00:38:26,439 Speaker 3: caring for a twelve year old girl who was dying 553 00:38:26,480 --> 00:38:29,719 Speaker 3: from leukemia. She was there alone, and it was a 554 00:38:29,840 --> 00:38:33,880 Speaker 3: very peaceful night. She slept most of it. Her parents 555 00:38:33,920 --> 00:38:37,040 Speaker 3: were not there. At one point during the night, she 556 00:38:37,120 --> 00:38:40,200 Speaker 3: woke up and asked me, where did the man go? 557 00:38:40,920 --> 00:38:43,919 Speaker 3: And I said, what man? And she said, the man 558 00:38:43,960 --> 00:38:47,240 Speaker 3: that's been sitting in that rocking chair next to her bed. 559 00:38:47,800 --> 00:38:51,000 Speaker 3: Our unit was locked at night, and we knew everyone 560 00:38:51,239 --> 00:38:54,120 Speaker 3: who was on that floor, and there was no man 561 00:38:54,800 --> 00:38:57,880 Speaker 3: that was visible that sat in that chair next to 562 00:38:57,960 --> 00:39:02,640 Speaker 3: her that night. She died peacefully the next morning. To 563 00:39:02,680 --> 00:39:06,280 Speaker 3: this day, I know it was someone from heaven coming 564 00:39:06,280 --> 00:39:12,400 Speaker 3: to take her home. Before passing, my father had vivid 565 00:39:12,480 --> 00:39:17,720 Speaker 3: dreams of his hometown in Sicily. He could recall everyone's names, 566 00:39:18,120 --> 00:39:21,520 Speaker 3: the shops and said it was so clear and that 567 00:39:21,600 --> 00:39:25,760 Speaker 3: he could remember everything. Dad was eighty when he passed 568 00:39:26,120 --> 00:39:29,160 Speaker 3: and hadn't been back to Sicily since he left at 569 00:39:29,200 --> 00:39:33,080 Speaker 3: the age of seventeen. I should have realized that this 570 00:39:33,320 --> 00:39:36,920 Speaker 3: was a sign of his soon to be passing. My 571 00:39:37,080 --> 00:39:41,640 Speaker 3: sister passed twelve months later and said that Dad was 572 00:39:41,680 --> 00:39:46,279 Speaker 3: at the hospital with her just before she died. It's 573 00:39:46,320 --> 00:39:48,759 Speaker 3: time to go to our last break and then we'll 574 00:39:48,760 --> 00:39:53,120 Speaker 3: be back with more stories. You're listening to Shades of 575 00:39:53,160 --> 00:39:56,680 Speaker 3: the Afterlife on the iHeartRadio and Coast to Coast a 576 00:39:57,000 --> 00:40:09,439 Speaker 3: M Paranormal Podcast Network. Stay there, Sandra will be right back. 577 00:40:14,760 --> 00:40:18,120 Speaker 4: Hey, it's the Wizard of Weird Joshua P. Warren. Don't 578 00:40:18,120 --> 00:40:21,960 Speaker 4: forget to check out my show Strange Things each week 579 00:40:22,160 --> 00:40:25,040 Speaker 4: as I bring you the world of the truly amazing 580 00:40:25,160 --> 00:40:29,320 Speaker 4: and bizarre right here on the iHeartRadio and Coast to 581 00:40:29,400 --> 00:40:33,360 Speaker 4: Coast AM Paranormal Podcast Network. 582 00:40:36,760 --> 00:40:40,759 Speaker 3: This is Afterlife Expert Daniel Braakley, and you're listening to 583 00:40:40,800 --> 00:40:46,600 Speaker 3: the iHeartRadio and Coast to Coast AM Paronormal Podcast Network. 584 00:41:00,480 --> 00:41:03,880 Speaker 3: Welcome back to Shades of the Afterlife. I'm Sandra Champlain. 585 00:41:04,440 --> 00:41:07,840 Speaker 3: We never know how our life is going to play out, 586 00:41:08,120 --> 00:41:11,279 Speaker 3: or the lives of our loved ones, but hearing these 587 00:41:11,320 --> 00:41:16,280 Speaker 3: stories gives so much confidence that no one dies alone, 588 00:41:16,880 --> 00:41:20,719 Speaker 3: that there's a bigger plan. That we're greeted that there's 589 00:41:20,840 --> 00:41:25,480 Speaker 3: parties and that people will take us home. I'd like 590 00:41:25,560 --> 00:41:29,200 Speaker 3: to continue our story time with some stories from the 591 00:41:29,400 --> 00:41:32,879 Speaker 3: new books that I'm reading called Final Gifts, written by 592 00:41:33,120 --> 00:41:37,960 Speaker 3: two hospice nurses. They say, sometimes a family decides to 593 00:41:38,040 --> 00:41:42,600 Speaker 3: withhold information about the death of someone. The dying person 594 00:41:42,719 --> 00:41:48,279 Speaker 3: knows this impulse is to spare someone emotional pain, but 595 00:41:48,320 --> 00:41:52,840 Speaker 3: the truth often brings peace, not discomfort. This is the 596 00:41:52,920 --> 00:41:58,120 Speaker 3: story of Sue, a dignified Chinese woman. Sue was getting 597 00:41:58,280 --> 00:42:02,680 Speaker 3: devoted care from her daughter Lily. Both were Buddhists and 598 00:42:02,880 --> 00:42:06,960 Speaker 3: very accepting of the mother's terminal status. I've had a 599 00:42:07,000 --> 00:42:10,919 Speaker 3: good life for ninety three years, she said, and I've 600 00:42:10,920 --> 00:42:14,760 Speaker 3: been on earth long enough. She dreamed of her husband, 601 00:42:15,080 --> 00:42:19,000 Speaker 3: who had died many years before. I will join him soon, 602 00:42:19,239 --> 00:42:24,280 Speaker 3: she said. But one day, Sue seemed very puzzled. Why 603 00:42:24,400 --> 00:42:28,080 Speaker 3: is my sister with my husband? She asked, They are 604 00:42:28,120 --> 00:42:33,319 Speaker 3: both calling me to come. Is your sister dead, I asked, No, 605 00:42:33,719 --> 00:42:36,919 Speaker 3: she still lives in China, she said, I've not seen 606 00:42:37,000 --> 00:42:40,799 Speaker 3: her for many years. When I related this conversation to 607 00:42:40,920 --> 00:42:45,759 Speaker 3: the daughter, she was astonished and tearful. My aunt died 608 00:42:45,960 --> 00:42:49,759 Speaker 3: two days ago in China. Lily said, we decided not 609 00:42:49,880 --> 00:42:53,279 Speaker 3: to tell mother that her sister had the same kind 610 00:42:53,320 --> 00:42:57,120 Speaker 3: of cancer. It was a very painful death. She lived 611 00:42:57,200 --> 00:43:01,160 Speaker 3: in a remote village where good medical care wasn't available. 612 00:43:01,680 --> 00:43:05,160 Speaker 3: We didn't want to upset or frighten mother since she 613 00:43:05,360 --> 00:43:08,160 Speaker 3: was so sick herself. What do you think about your 614 00:43:08,200 --> 00:43:11,919 Speaker 3: mother's questioning why she is being called to come by 615 00:43:11,960 --> 00:43:16,640 Speaker 3: both her sister and your father, I asked. Mother tells 616 00:43:16,680 --> 00:43:19,640 Speaker 3: me that my father's been calling her to be with 617 00:43:19,760 --> 00:43:22,480 Speaker 3: him for the past week. Lily said, it gives me 618 00:43:22,560 --> 00:43:26,240 Speaker 3: comfort to know they will be together in the next life, 619 00:43:26,680 --> 00:43:29,600 Speaker 3: So I guess her sister is waiting there for her. Also, 620 00:43:30,360 --> 00:43:33,600 Speaker 3: Lily said, after much thought, do you think the news 621 00:43:33,600 --> 00:43:36,960 Speaker 3: of her sister's death will upset your mother? No, I 622 00:43:37,000 --> 00:43:40,160 Speaker 3: guess not. They loved each other a great deal, so 623 00:43:40,400 --> 00:43:43,240 Speaker 3: it'll be wonderful for them to be all together again. 624 00:43:43,800 --> 00:43:46,520 Speaker 3: I guess I should tell her the truth. When Lily 625 00:43:46,640 --> 00:43:49,760 Speaker 3: tearfully told her mother about her sister's illness and death, 626 00:43:50,200 --> 00:43:54,879 Speaker 3: Sue said, with a knowing smile, Now I understand her 627 00:43:54,920 --> 00:43:58,640 Speaker 3: puzzle was solved. She died three weeks later, at peace 628 00:43:59,120 --> 00:44:04,280 Speaker 3: and with a se anticipation. The Companionship and support these 629 00:44:04,440 --> 00:44:08,160 Speaker 3: presences provide for a person about to die is evident, 630 00:44:08,680 --> 00:44:14,040 Speaker 3: but some terminally ill people have these experiences months before 631 00:44:14,080 --> 00:44:17,759 Speaker 3: their deaths and benefit in a similar way over a 632 00:44:17,840 --> 00:44:23,480 Speaker 3: longer period of time. We don't just see people when 633 00:44:23,520 --> 00:44:29,320 Speaker 3: we pass. Sometimes, like the man seeing Cecily, get transported 634 00:44:29,680 --> 00:44:33,320 Speaker 3: back to places in the past. Here's the story of Lucy. 635 00:44:33,920 --> 00:44:38,520 Speaker 3: Near Dawn, a patient's daughter telephoned mother says she's been 636 00:44:38,560 --> 00:44:41,560 Speaker 3: out of her body and has been somewhere else, but 637 00:44:41,680 --> 00:44:44,880 Speaker 3: now she's back and keeps wanting to tell me about it. 638 00:44:45,280 --> 00:44:48,400 Speaker 3: Ellie said, in a tight, breathless voice, would you please 639 00:44:48,440 --> 00:44:51,680 Speaker 3: come over? How is she now? I asked. She says 640 00:44:51,719 --> 00:44:55,359 Speaker 3: she's fine, Ellie said, Does she seem any different to you? No, 641 00:44:55,640 --> 00:44:58,480 Speaker 3: she's the same as always, except for the story of 642 00:44:58,640 --> 00:45:02,799 Speaker 3: leaving her body. Is she upset by having left her body? No, 643 00:45:03,080 --> 00:45:06,919 Speaker 3: she's fine, feeling quite comfortable and asking for a cup 644 00:45:06,960 --> 00:45:09,759 Speaker 3: of coffee. I told Ellie to make the coffee and 645 00:45:09,800 --> 00:45:13,400 Speaker 3: i'd be right over. When I arrived, Ellie looked shaken. 646 00:45:13,960 --> 00:45:18,160 Speaker 3: Her mother, though, was serene. How are you doing, I asked, Lucy. 647 00:45:18,680 --> 00:45:21,160 Speaker 3: I was just telling Ellie that I went out of 648 00:45:21,200 --> 00:45:24,680 Speaker 3: here and left this old body behind for a while. 649 00:45:25,000 --> 00:45:28,279 Speaker 3: Lucy said, where did you go? I asked, back to 650 00:45:28,320 --> 00:45:31,840 Speaker 3: the old farm in Pennsylvania where I grew up. She said, 651 00:45:32,160 --> 00:45:35,319 Speaker 3: The kitchen looked the same, and the view across the 652 00:45:35,400 --> 00:45:39,120 Speaker 3: fields where the cows used to be was so fresh 653 00:45:39,200 --> 00:45:42,960 Speaker 3: and green. Lucy talked at length about the old farmhouse, 654 00:45:43,360 --> 00:45:46,480 Speaker 3: how she'd lived in it until she was nearly twenty, 655 00:45:46,920 --> 00:45:50,120 Speaker 3: and then she'd continue to visit until the death of 656 00:45:50,120 --> 00:45:53,040 Speaker 3: her uncle, who owned it. After it was sold, she 657 00:45:53,120 --> 00:45:57,560 Speaker 3: hadn't returned. In her opinion, she'd been transported to a 658 00:45:57,640 --> 00:46:01,640 Speaker 3: place she particularly loved. What do you think this means, 659 00:46:01,920 --> 00:46:04,920 Speaker 3: I asked Lucy. Oh, I don't know. I guess I 660 00:46:05,040 --> 00:46:08,279 Speaker 3: just wanted to see it again. In describing her out 661 00:46:08,320 --> 00:46:14,120 Speaker 3: of body experience, Lucy gave many specific details, but sometimes 662 00:46:14,320 --> 00:46:22,240 Speaker 3: they only refer to a light. Here's Emma's story. Emma fifty, 663 00:46:22,600 --> 00:46:26,239 Speaker 3: had a husband and two children in their early twenties. 664 00:46:26,680 --> 00:46:29,920 Speaker 3: When I asked Emma what she missed most because of 665 00:46:29,960 --> 00:46:35,279 Speaker 3: the limitations of her illness, she replied, entertaining I love 666 00:46:35,360 --> 00:46:38,200 Speaker 3: to give parties and cook wonderful food for my family 667 00:46:38,239 --> 00:46:42,440 Speaker 3: and friends. Her husband reported that many friends brought food 668 00:46:42,440 --> 00:46:45,600 Speaker 3: to them now, always hoping to send just the right 669 00:46:45,680 --> 00:46:50,200 Speaker 3: thing to tempt Emma's disappearing appetite. So Emma knew that 670 00:46:50,280 --> 00:46:53,719 Speaker 3: her family was still eating well, despite the fact that 671 00:46:53,800 --> 00:46:56,400 Speaker 3: she could no longer cook for them, But it was 672 00:46:56,440 --> 00:46:59,840 Speaker 3: the joy of sharing her creative cooking with the people 673 00:47:00,120 --> 00:47:03,480 Speaker 3: she loved that she missed so much. Her daughter was 674 00:47:03,520 --> 00:47:07,480 Speaker 3: about to graduate from college, and Emma spoke often about 675 00:47:07,480 --> 00:47:10,600 Speaker 3: how she looked forward to seeing her daughter and a 676 00:47:10,640 --> 00:47:14,320 Speaker 3: cap and gown. She's the first college graduate in the family, 677 00:47:14,680 --> 00:47:18,879 Speaker 3: she said proudly. As her illness progressed, Emma spent more 678 00:47:18,880 --> 00:47:22,080 Speaker 3: time in bed. About a month before she died, I 679 00:47:22,200 --> 00:47:26,719 Speaker 3: visited and found her propped up on pillows, staring into 680 00:47:26,760 --> 00:47:30,000 Speaker 3: space with a dreamy look in her eyes. She was 681 00:47:30,040 --> 00:47:36,080 Speaker 3: smiling peacefully. What's happening, Emma, I asked, there's that beautiful light, 682 00:47:37,120 --> 00:47:42,160 Speaker 3: she whispered softly. Despite my gentle questioning, she continued to 683 00:47:42,239 --> 00:47:47,719 Speaker 3: smile dreamily, but offered no further information. She mentioned the 684 00:47:47,880 --> 00:47:51,920 Speaker 3: light two or three times during my next few visits, 685 00:47:52,719 --> 00:47:57,360 Speaker 3: never providing details, but continuing to look radiant and peaceful. 686 00:47:58,160 --> 00:48:01,359 Speaker 3: She was a strong willed woman who struggled to deal 687 00:48:01,400 --> 00:48:05,520 Speaker 3: with her increasing loss of control as she became sicker, 688 00:48:06,320 --> 00:48:11,320 Speaker 3: She insisted on continuing to manage her own medicines, despite 689 00:48:11,360 --> 00:48:15,600 Speaker 3: the fact that she was sometimes slightly confused. Her family 690 00:48:15,640 --> 00:48:18,920 Speaker 3: and nurses were very concerned about her safety and felt 691 00:48:18,920 --> 00:48:23,280 Speaker 3: this might be dangerous, yet she could not relinquish this control. 692 00:48:23,680 --> 00:48:26,760 Speaker 3: Rather than have a private duty nurse at home, Emma 693 00:48:26,960 --> 00:48:30,600 Speaker 3: chose to be admitted into the hospice unit. I visited 694 00:48:30,680 --> 00:48:34,759 Speaker 3: her shortly after she was admitted. Oh, if only I 695 00:48:34,800 --> 00:48:38,680 Speaker 3: could relax, she complained. What would happen if you relaxed? 696 00:48:38,719 --> 00:48:43,160 Speaker 3: I asked, well, that light would come closer again and 697 00:48:43,239 --> 00:48:46,719 Speaker 3: I could get to know all those people. For as 698 00:48:46,760 --> 00:48:49,960 Speaker 3: flit second, I thought she was referring to her roommates 699 00:48:50,520 --> 00:48:55,720 Speaker 3: or the staff on the unit. Unsure, I asked what people. 700 00:48:56,880 --> 00:49:00,840 Speaker 3: Emma looked surprised, as if I were asking a rediculous question. 701 00:49:01,600 --> 00:49:05,120 Speaker 3: All these people around my bed, of course, she said, 702 00:49:05,520 --> 00:49:08,360 Speaker 3: waving her arm to show the size of the crowd 703 00:49:08,719 --> 00:49:12,839 Speaker 3: that I couldn't see. You will relax, I reassured her. 704 00:49:13,480 --> 00:49:16,720 Speaker 3: This is a safe place to relax and a safe 705 00:49:16,719 --> 00:49:20,000 Speaker 3: place to get to know all these people around you. 706 00:49:20,560 --> 00:49:24,239 Speaker 3: The beautiful light will come closer and everything will be 707 00:49:24,360 --> 00:49:28,880 Speaker 3: all right. The nurse assigned to Emma's care reported that 708 00:49:28,960 --> 00:49:35,040 Speaker 3: she was comfortable, but deteriorating, and often appeared busy, preoccupied, 709 00:49:35,680 --> 00:49:40,279 Speaker 3: as though giving directions were fussing at people unseen. On 710 00:49:40,360 --> 00:49:44,840 Speaker 3: the eve of her daughter's graduation, I visited again and asked, 711 00:49:45,200 --> 00:49:48,440 Speaker 3: what's happening, Emma? Well, I have so much to do 712 00:49:48,560 --> 00:49:51,720 Speaker 3: with all of these people, and that light just keeps 713 00:49:51,800 --> 00:49:56,279 Speaker 3: coming closer, she replied, with a trace of annoyance. Do 714 00:49:56,360 --> 00:49:59,439 Speaker 3: you know any of these people? I asked her. Well, yes, 715 00:49:59,520 --> 00:50:03,040 Speaker 3: there's my she said, squinting as if to see him better. 716 00:50:03,600 --> 00:50:06,720 Speaker 3: I smiled and nodded, knowing that her father had died 717 00:50:06,880 --> 00:50:09,680 Speaker 3: less than a year before. Is he waiting for you? 718 00:50:09,719 --> 00:50:13,960 Speaker 3: I asked? She looked surprised. For Heaven's sake, Is that 719 00:50:14,080 --> 00:50:18,040 Speaker 3: what he's doing? She asked? Emma, when will your work 720 00:50:18,160 --> 00:50:22,960 Speaker 3: be done? I continued, Oh, I think probably Sunday, she answered. 721 00:50:23,680 --> 00:50:27,239 Speaker 3: I immediately called her family to alert them. The next day, 722 00:50:27,320 --> 00:50:30,520 Speaker 3: Emma put on her wig and makeup to prepare for 723 00:50:30,600 --> 00:50:34,360 Speaker 3: her daughter's visit after graduation. It was quite a celebration, 724 00:50:34,960 --> 00:50:39,560 Speaker 3: with cake, champagne, and lots of family pictures taken The 725 00:50:39,600 --> 00:50:43,120 Speaker 3: next morning, Emma again, put on her wig and makeup, 726 00:50:43,520 --> 00:50:47,239 Speaker 3: lay back against the pillows with a contented sigh, and 727 00:50:47,280 --> 00:50:51,640 Speaker 3: within a few hours had slipped from sleep into a 728 00:50:51,680 --> 00:50:55,759 Speaker 3: brief coma. With her family quietly sitting around her. She 729 00:50:55,920 --> 00:51:00,200 Speaker 3: peacefully died, just as she had predicted. It was Sunday 730 00:51:00,680 --> 00:51:04,799 Speaker 3: and her work was done. If you're interested in hospice 731 00:51:04,800 --> 00:51:09,040 Speaker 3: care for yourself, for a loved one, or volunteering, there's 732 00:51:09,080 --> 00:51:14,920 Speaker 3: a great website, Hospicefoundation dot org. Many individuals and families 733 00:51:15,000 --> 00:51:17,960 Speaker 3: really could benefit from care, but don't know how to 734 00:51:18,400 --> 00:51:21,319 Speaker 3: access it. Some people are afraid to discuss it, some 735 00:51:21,440 --> 00:51:24,200 Speaker 3: wait for a physician to suggest it, and some people 736 00:51:24,239 --> 00:51:27,840 Speaker 3: don't know. You can initiate hospice care on your own. 737 00:51:28,239 --> 00:51:32,240 Speaker 3: Remember that hospice does not extend or shorten life expectancy, 738 00:51:32,600 --> 00:51:36,520 Speaker 3: but seeks to improve the quality of time that is 739 00:51:36,600 --> 00:51:41,040 Speaker 3: left and manage pain. If you think hospice may be 740 00:51:41,160 --> 00:51:43,879 Speaker 3: the right choice for you or a family member, here's 741 00:51:43,920 --> 00:51:48,319 Speaker 3: how to proceed. Number one, start the conversation. Discuss it 742 00:51:48,360 --> 00:51:52,840 Speaker 3: with your healthcare provider. Number two, get recommendations, do some 743 00:51:53,040 --> 00:51:57,200 Speaker 3: searching in your area, ask family or friends. Even if 744 00:51:57,239 --> 00:52:01,200 Speaker 3: your physician doesn't agree that hospice this is the right choice. 745 00:52:01,440 --> 00:52:05,080 Speaker 3: You can contact a local hospice directly for help with 746 00:52:05,120 --> 00:52:09,839 Speaker 3: a referral next visit and assess the providers. You can 747 00:52:09,880 --> 00:52:15,320 Speaker 3: request a no cost, no obligation visit by the hospice providers. 748 00:52:15,680 --> 00:52:18,200 Speaker 3: They will send a clinician to your home, or you 749 00:52:18,239 --> 00:52:22,440 Speaker 3: could visit the hospice facility and get your questions answered. 750 00:52:22,880 --> 00:52:27,320 Speaker 3: My father spent some time in hospice managing his pain medication. 751 00:52:27,840 --> 00:52:32,440 Speaker 3: The facility was bright and happy. The staff couldn't have 752 00:52:32,560 --> 00:52:36,120 Speaker 3: been any greater. Little did I know then that that 753 00:52:36,239 --> 00:52:41,160 Speaker 3: experience would have me recommending hospice to you. Now, certainly 754 00:52:41,160 --> 00:52:44,439 Speaker 3: that's the route I'm going to go. Well, our time 755 00:52:44,480 --> 00:52:47,440 Speaker 3: together has come to an end. Please remember to come 756 00:52:47,480 --> 00:52:50,400 Speaker 3: visit me at We Don'tdie dot com, Come to a 757 00:52:50,440 --> 00:52:53,880 Speaker 3: free Sunday gathering, join one of our medium classes, or 758 00:52:53,920 --> 00:52:59,719 Speaker 3: other events. I'm Sandra Champlain. Thank you so much for 759 00:52:59,760 --> 00:53:04,360 Speaker 3: listen listening to Shades of the Afterlife on the iHeartRadio 760 00:53:04,800 --> 00:53:09,080 Speaker 3: and Coast to Coast am Heirinormal podcast Network. 761 00:53:15,520 --> 00:53:18,200 Speaker 1: And if you like this episode of Shades of the Afterlife, 762 00:53:18,239 --> 00:53:20,640 Speaker 1: wait until you hear the next one. Thank you for 763 00:53:20,719 --> 00:53:24,000 Speaker 1: listening to the iHeartRadio and coast to coast AM Paranormal 764 00:53:24,080 --> 00:53:25,200 Speaker 1: Podcast Network,