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End-of-life doctor reveals what people say right before death
Newsner Stories ^ | Sep 2025 | Himani Ediriweera

Posted on 09/09/2025 9:49:28 AM PDT by where's_the_Outrage?

After years at the bedside of dying patients, a hospice doctor noticed a striking pattern – when the end comes, people don’t cling to fear. In its place come final words that are quiet, powerful, and often shockingly unexpected.

While death is one of the most feared and least discussed parts of life, it is a moment of deep psychological transformation for many. Dr. Christopher Kerr, a palliative care physician with over two decades of experience at Hospice & Palliative Care Buffalo, has studied more than 1,500 end-of-life events. His findings challenge our traditional understanding of dying – not as a void, but as a “unique vantage point” that “changes one’s perspective and perception.”

“It naturally draws you inward. There’s reflection, and often people focus on the best points of having lived and having mattered. And that’s usually our relationships,” said Dr. Kerr, who heads the research team on dreams and visions at the end of life.

Contrary to what many expect, the final days of life are not always filled with fear.

“We’ve all been harmed in one way or another for having lived, and we seem to get put back together through these experiences,” he told the Sun. “And so, the life you live gets validated, and inversely, the fear of death seems to lessen.”

Kerr’s research shows that most dying patients experience powerful dreams or visions – sometimes involving meetings with long-lost loved ones or recalling significant life events – that provide emotional closure......

According to Kerr, children experience death differently – often because they don’t fully grasp its finality.

Instead of fear, many terminally ill children see comforting visions, like animals that assure them they’re “loved and not alone.”

“Children are creative and imaginative and can access that part of them,” Kerr said.

(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Health/Medicine; Society
KEYWORDS: christopherkerr; death; deathtruth; endoflife; himaniediriweera; hospice; lastbreath
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To: dznutz

It’s an urban legend that goes back to email days. He was unconscious when he died.


61 posted on 09/09/2025 11:50:24 AM PDT by AppyPappy (If Hitler were alive today and criticized Trump, would he still be Hitler?)
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To: where's_the_Outrage?

“I could’ve had a V8”?


62 posted on 09/09/2025 11:52:29 AM PDT by databoss
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To: where's_the_Outrage?; All
A little bit tangential, but related. This is the best song about end-of-life and death I've heard. I hope you enjoy.

Eliza Gilkyson - "When You Walk On"

Lyrics "When You Walk On"

It's not overtly religious, but mysterious about the afterlife, how you "walk on" to your next chapter, and how you affected your loved ones while you trod this mortal coil.

63 posted on 09/09/2025 11:55:08 AM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom
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To: where's_the_Outrage?

I recommend St. Robert Bellarmine’s book: “The Art of Dying” .


64 posted on 09/09/2025 12:04:25 PM PDT by stonehouse01
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To: V_TWIN

A few years ago I had a one time vision I guess you could say and I claim nothing except what I saw and heard.

I saw myself face down at home from a several feet above where my body was. I got the feeling I was a good bit older.

There was a voice that I really can’t describe except that it was soft saying “it’s ok to go”. Then it stopped and I was awake.

Never anything like that ever happened again. I don’t know if there is anything to it or if I had some crazy one off dream. I never forgot it.

Make of it what you will.


65 posted on 09/09/2025 12:15:12 PM PDT by wally_bert (I cannot be sure for certain, but in my personal opinion I am certain that I am not sure..)
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To: Dr. Franklin

Photo won’t show in a tag but https://www.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Artist-Jenny-Jinya-Creates-Long-Comic-Strips-Full-Of-Emotions-Like-Sadness-And-Empathy-New-Pics-65b0e21a545eb__700.jpg


66 posted on 09/09/2025 12:23:01 PM PDT by No.6
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To: where's_the_Outrage?

I plan to live forever. So far. So good.


67 posted on 09/09/2025 12:46:36 PM PDT by TopDog2 (Onward Christian soldiers)
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To: Harmless Teddy Bear
Death is NOT the END... it's the beginning of WHAT's NEXT!

Keep in mind YOU are an IMMORTAL SOUL.. meaning YOU will continue to exist PERMANENTLY in some form or another FOREVER!.

68 posted on 09/09/2025 12:53:29 PM PDT by VideoDoctor
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To: V_TWIN

At the end of all things, when the sun rises here and turns to blackness down there, the Blessed will say, We have never lived anywhere except Heaven, and the Lost, “We were always in Hell.” And both will speak truly.

~ C.S. Lewis
(The Great Divorce)


69 posted on 09/09/2025 1:25:49 PM PDT by Fai Mao (I used to care, but things have changed ~ Bob Dylan)
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To: Dr. Franklin

“The good don’t fear death.”

It’s not enough to be good, you need to believe in Christ as savior imputing His righteousness for salvation.

Romans 3:10 “There is none righteous, no, not one…

Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus”

This article was written by a non-believer, not surprisingly from msn.


70 posted on 09/09/2025 1:32:50 PM PDT by grumpygresh
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To: Harmless Teddy Bear

Dying is just a change in life style.


71 posted on 09/09/2025 1:38:45 PM PDT by GingisK
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To: tired&retired

That’s wonderful!


72 posted on 09/09/2025 1:43:05 PM PDT by quilterdebbie (We will endeavor to persevere!)
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To: PGR88

Haha! That’s great!


73 posted on 09/09/2025 1:44:59 PM PDT by quilterdebbie (We will endeavor to persevere!)
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To: TopDog2
I plan to live forever

You do, as a matter of fact, live forever.

74 posted on 09/09/2025 1:49:54 PM PDT by GingisK
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To: IYAS9YAS

I see what you did there


75 posted on 09/09/2025 1:53:57 PM PDT by ShadowAce (Linux - The Ultimate Windows Service Pack )
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To: AppyPappy
It’s an urban legend that goes back to email days. He was unconscious when he died

Now are we supposed to believe an urban legend, or trust Snopes and AI to give us the truth?

76 posted on 09/09/2025 2:11:46 PM PDT by dznutz
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To: alexander_busek

They were in the invasion of the Philippines. He never wanted to talk about his experiences, except with fellow combat veterans. I just heard a few of his stories. One was of fighting off Japanese soldiers while in a foxhole he had dug and telling other US soldiers he would kill anyone who tried to push him out of his foxhole. I tried to get my Dad’s service records from the US Army, but they were destroyed in a fire at a huge archive.


77 posted on 09/09/2025 2:13:13 PM PDT by Robert357
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To: LilFarmer

Amazing.


78 posted on 09/09/2025 2:37:22 PM PDT by Flaming Conservative ((Pray without ceasing))
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To: Jeff Chandler

I’ve never read that before altho pretty familiar with Poe. It’s beautiful and thank you for sharing!


79 posted on 09/09/2025 2:52:02 PM PDT by Cloverfarm ("...a Government, erected by the Majesty of the People ...")
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To: Cloverfarm

I’ve never been into poetry much, but that one resonated with me.


80 posted on 09/09/2025 3:21:23 PM PDT by Jeff Chandler (The issue is never the issue. The issue is always the revolution.)
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