For hospice nurse Julie McFadden, death is not a mystery—it is a journey she has witnessed countless times. Over the years, she has devoted herself to helping people navigate the often-unspoken realities of dying. Through her work, she aims to bring comfort, understanding, and a sense of peace to those facing the inevitable.
Julie has made it her mission to demystify the dying process, breaking down the fear and stigma that so often surround it. Beyond her hands-on experience in hospice care, she has expanded her reach by writing a book and sharing her knowledge through social media, where she openly discusses the profound and deeply human moments that unfold at the end of life.
She offers a window into these final moments, recounting the last words of her patients, their lingering regrets, and the subtle yet significant changes that signal life’s end. One of the most haunting phenomena she speaks about is the “death rattle.”
This unsettling sound occurs when a person loses the ability to swallow, causing saliva to collect in the throat. To loved ones, it can be distressing—an eerie gurgling that seems to signal struggle. But Julie reassures them that, in reality, it is not a sign of suffering. The body is simply at rest, no longer reacting as it once did.
“When families hear it, they often think their loved one is choking,” Julie explains. “But it’s not coming from the lungs, and it’s not painful. It’s just a natural part of the body shutting down.”
Her insights provide comfort to those who fear death, offering a reminder that even in its most unsettling moments, the process is often more peaceful than it appears. Through her work, Julie continues to shed light on the mystery of dying, helping the living find solace in understanding what awaits us all.
