DocM
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I came to see a patient of mine who, God bless her is over 100 years of age. Physically, she appears no older than 70 or so. At age 92, she had come to me with an endstage arthritis in her right hip. We discussed the options, and she decided to have it fixed. At the time, she said she was very active and wanted to remain that way; the use of a wheelchair or being bedridden was anathema to her. The orthopedist, back then was somewhat taken aback. "Matt, she's 92, you know.......how long does she have to live? Is it worth doing the hip surgery?" I assured him that she thought the situation through and understood the risks but insisted on proceeding. She did great, and now, ten years later, she had been walking easily on it. She was admitted a few days ago with a minor heart rhythm disturbance with a rapid rate. Today, I came in. An aide with her stated that she was short of breath, and in and out of lucid consciousness. "She has been praying all night; she hasn't slept."
I began to talk with her. Clearly she was decompensating. I had an instinctual feeling of death approaching. I spoke with her, tried to offer some comfort to make her more comfortable. "I was told to pray, " she told me, "and I haven't stopped praying." "Who told you to pray?" I asked. "You know, I'm not sure....last night....a man...." She wandered off, but had the distinct impression that an important person/figure communicated to her, and with her worsening shortness of breath, she continued to pray as I examined her.
I'm not sure what to make of this exchange. I don't think it was someone in her family or a hospital worker. Yet, I don't have an explanation for it. I have heard of communications of patients around the time of an impending death with deceased loved ones - examples of this in my own family and in my work have been few, but impressive.
I tried to comfort her, and she smiled. I felt I got through on a person to person level, and her gravity lifted for a bit.
She was not afraid, but the need to pray was powerful. I'm not sure, but I think this may have been a true ADC or NDE equivalent.
Matthew
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