It’s a very real and fairly well documented phenomenon. Depending on the underlying sickness and/or disease, it obviously doesn’t always happen, but especially in older patients close to a “natural death,” it’s common enough.

I’ve seen it dirst hand as nurse a couple of times, and in all but one, it was extremely touching and heartfelt for the families (the last one didn’t have anyone) to be able to say goodbye and speak with their relatives for a few while, perhaps convey last wishes and such. In one case, even the pain the patient had suffered for a long time all but disappeared for a while.

The one who was alone was a much sadder case. Me and a few other nurses took turns just talking with her, mostly reminiscing about her life and experiences and such. It was a profound experience, but damn if it didn’t feel sad. A whole (and long, at that) life and not a single relative or friend there at the end. Not because she was a bad person either, just bad luck. I felt worse for her than my own relatives who died surrounded by family and with elaborate wills and funerals.

To end on a more positive note, though, weird things do happen to us when we’re close. Our bodies are such a wonder in many ways, like that.