The grandad was being looked after by a carer (Image: Maskot via Getty Images)
A 96-year-old grandfather used some of his final breaths to deliver a touching message to the carer looking after him before dying in her arms. The elderly man had been bedbound for several weeks with low blood oxygen levels, a condition significantly worsened by the recent UK heatwave, which saw temperatures soar to as high as 37.3C in certain parts of the country.
The grandfather was described as a ‘very British gentleman type’, who had served as a captain in the Army during the Suez Canal crisis. In his final weeks, he was confined to bed and receiving round-the-clock care. His grandson recounted how, on the day of his passing, the grandfather requested a cup of tea, drank it, and then rose from his bed with a sudden spring of energy.
The carer informed the grandson that his relative had announced ‘Right. I want to show you exactly what I wish to be buried in’ before making his way to the wardrobe to retrieve a suit.
He said: “As he walked over to the wardrobe, the carer, concerned, tried to get him to bed but he was determined, he picked out the suit and clothes he wanted and placed it down on the bed and explained to her how it should be.
“He then walked back to the bed but before getting in it he collapsed on the floor, the carer rushed over to him and he said to her ‘Right. If its all good with you, I’m going to go now’
Grandfather’s final wish and sudden burst of energy before passing
“She looked at him and said ‘Yes, its fine you can go’ and then he died as she held him. Obviously I am devastated that my last Grandparent has died. He was a very British Gentleman type, he always dressed perfectly and people would often comment how smart he looked throughout his life.
“He was unwell for a while, he had low blood oxygen for a few weeks, but the heatwave made this much worse for him and sadly he passed away peacefully.”
“I was in shock when the carer explained to me how he had died, but it didn’t really surprise me… its the perfect way for him to go, she was a very new carer for him, had only been there for three days and apparently its the first death she had witnessed so she was in shock.
“I’m glad he was able to die on his terms, he was very afraid he’d end up dying in hospital.”
The grandson shared his grandfather’s story on Reddit, prompting numerous commenters to discuss terminal lucidity – the surprising, brief return of mental sharpness, memory, or typical behaviour in those experiencing serious, irreversible neurological or psychiatric conditions just before death.
One person remarked: “This happened to my grandmother. She was effectively a vegetable in a hospice for weeks before she died, couldn’t move, open her eyes or speak. Then one day out of the blue she was upright in bed, talking and laughing with family saying she was going to live to 100 (she was 95). The next day she was gone.”
Another stated: “My late Godfather woke up after days in and out and asked for an orange and a ginger ale. It was the middle of the night in a small ass northern Canadian town but we found that s**t. He sat with us and had a chat and went back to sleep. Never woke up and died the next evening.”
A third shared: “Happened to my dad, he was in the end stages of motor neurone, was out of it for a few weeks then suddenly woke up, ate a banana and said people he knew who had already died had come to visit him to tell him about the afterlife and he was excited to go there. He passed a few hours later.”
What is terminal lucidity?
According to Cleveland Clinic, terminal lucidity is a surge of clarity and energy in a person who is dying. Although it doesn’t happen to everyone, it sometimes occurs in people with brain diseases that cause irreversible mental decline, like dementia.
The clinic said: “Although researchers are still studying what causes it, we know that it’s typically a sign that death is close.
“Terminal lucidity isn’t an official diagnosis. And not everyone who’s nearing death experiences it. Most healthcare providers who work with people who are dying only witness a few dozen incidents over their careers. But when these episodes do happen, they’re memorable for all who witness them.
“Watching a dying loved one regain their ability and enthusiasm to engage can spark a flood of confusing emotions – from heartbreak to joy. It’s important to work through these feelings as you support your loved one through their final days, while caring for yourself, too.”
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
