A nurse, who goes by hospice nurse Julie on TikTok, shared two unexplained phenomena that medical professionals see during the death and dying process. Thousands of comments confirmed others have seen this too.
Unsurprisingly, in a culture that often avoids talking about death and dying, people were curious about what Julie had to say. Her two viral videos both received 5.8 million views.
Julie's first video was about something professionals call "The Rally."
"This is when someone is really sick and almost towards actively dying – meaning dying within a few days – and then suddenly they look like they are 'better.'"
She said patients will begin to act like their old selves, talking, eating and maybe even walking again.
"They have a little more of a personality."
"Kind of laughing, talking, joking."
"But then usually they die within a few days after this."
"Sometimes even that night."
This happens to patients so frequently, they will educate families of the phenomenon so they don't feel such a total devastation when their loved one dies suddenly.
For a few people, this reminded them of the character Mark Sloan from Grey's Anatomy.
@j0rdancee/TikTok
Others shared their own personal experiences with The Rally and their loved ones.
@iboo757/TikTok
@juliemills0/TikTok; @hospicenursejulie/TikTok
@renoakgirl/TikTok
@alwayshiswife1/TikTok; @hospicenursejulie/TikTok
@footinmouthgirl/TikTok
Apparently, this doesn't just happen to humans.
@michele1kidd/TikTok
The second phenomenon didn't have a snappy name, but it happens incredibly frequently.
She continued:
"They're usually not afraid.""It's usually very comforting to them.""And they usually say they're sending a message like 'We're coming to get you soon,' or 'Don't worry we'll help you.'"
Julie said it's not scary for the patients at all.
Several people shared their own experiences with loved ones seeing spirits.
This comment section will make you weepy.
@vidagonzalezz/TikTok; @hospicenursejulie/TikTok
@browngirl_om/TikTok
@rpivo/TikTok
@scammy666/TikTok
@another.nobody.at.all/TikTok
@rwilliams823/TikTok
@allie_s22/TikTok
@aliciabreathjohns/TikTok
@sandycandy262/TikTok
She's also shared her thoughts on death in general.
Julie said when she's grounded spiritually and emotionally, she doesn't fear death, but she's also experienced the loss of losing loved ones suddenly. She knows the grief that comes with death.
Because of her experiences as a hospice nurse, she knows that her body will take care of her when that time comes. Spiritually, she believes we will go on after death.
[Source]
I know that when my dad passed in 2013, he experienced both of these phenomena. He not only "rallied" days after a heart attack, but also remarked several times about seeing his [long departed] brother and friends in his room.
Fortunately a dear friend who is a nurse alerted us that this—the rally—would occur, and not to be surprised if he's gone in a matter of days, and that's exactly what happened.
I've never seen the second phenomenon, but I agree with Mr Snyder — it sounds like something I'd expect from folks who know or suspect their time is almost up.
The first phenomenon, though — the 'rally' — I've seen twice.
In the 1980s, a friend in his mid-20s, hospitalized and dying of leukemia, became so lucid and energetic that we left the hospital to go for a walk, and he outwalked me. I thought he was having a miracle recovery. He was dead two days later.
The second 'rally' I saw was my wife. She'd been hospitalized, in intensive care, barely and rarely communicative, but one day she was awake and herself again. I thought she'd turned a corner, really got my hopes up. The next day she was effectively comatose, and by the weekend she was dead.
Sure wish some doctor, nurse, or nurse's aide had something to me. There are a thousand things I would've said to my wife that day, if I'd known or even suspected that it was our last conversation.
The bit about rallying happens occasionally. The other bit? Keep in mind these people are in hospice because they know they're going to die. Death is difficult to deal with, so why not have old friends, family, and pets there to help ease the concern.