A veteran hospice nurse sheds light on the process of death, emphasizing that it is a natural and normal occurrence that should not be feared. With two decades of experience in end-of-life care, Penny Hawkins Smith, 62, has witnessed the transition of many individuals.
According to Penny, as people near death, they tend to sleep more and gradually enter a state of responsiveness before entering what she describes as a ‘death coma.’ She notes that individuals often have visions and speak of embarking on a journey as part of the dying process.
In her role as a hospice quality assurance nurse, Penny aims to destigmatize death and educate families on its inevitability. She stresses the importance of normalizing the dying process for both patients and their loved ones, emphasizing that death is a natural part of life.
Penny acknowledges the presence of paranormal experiences during the dying process, such as visions of deceased loved ones and references to travel. She explains that each death is unique but individuals with terminal illnesses undergoing a natural death typically follow a similar trajectory.
In conclusion, Penny reassures that dying a natural death involves a gradual progression of symptoms, including increased sleep, transitioning into an unresponsive state, entering a death coma, and ultimately passing away. She emphasizes the importance of understanding and accepting the natural process of death.