Have you noticed that a few hours prior to death, the patient will suddenly experience an improvement?

I saw this many times as a cancer doctor. During my career over two thousand people died from malignancies. (I know it sounds terrible, but this is what happens when you are a cancer specialist no matter how hard you try to save people.) Many died in the hospital before hospice and home care became so common. I was with many of these people in the last 24 hours and often at the last moment. It was uncanny how often people would rally a bit - - become more coherent and able to talk with family members before slipping back into unresponsiveness. (Most people who die with cancer are not aware at the very end.)

I don't have a good explanation for this. We used to think it was appropriate adjustment of the opiates /morphine often employed for comfort near the end - - but I suspect the answer is more complicated. It does seem like a last rally of the spirit.

As others have stated it isn't true for all. It is a small minority in my experience - - but it always seems surprising and memorable when it occurs.

One thing an experienced cancer care person learns is to tell when death is close. That was when I tried to contact family members to come in for their last visits. Often that is when the rally would occur, so perhaps it was the presence of loved ones for the last time that sparked the temporary improvement.

This is a true phenomenon, but it doesn't apply to everyone. Some people just keep going downhill. The "surge of energy" that some patients experience before death is usually related to brain swelling. It's tough because the family thinks that the person is getting better. It's hard for health care providers to explain to the family that this is just a passing phase, and that death is close by. It can be extremely difficult for the family to accept... I mean, their loved one was just lying there a few minutes ago, not knowing who anyone was and not speaking, and all of a sudden they are alert and oriented. Grieving families look at this as a sign that they are improving and that they might pull through, but really it's just the body response to brain swelling.

Burst Of Energy Before Death

it is true! My father too improved greatly a day or so before he died of throat cancer! It gave me a false sense that he was finally getting better. I have no Idea what made it happen but I witnessed it myself. He suffered for months and just layed in bed at home until a day or so before he passed away When he got up came out and socialized with people visiting and just seemed to be his normal self. Only to pass away in my arms little less than 24 hours later. :0( I am thankful to have that one last day. Could it have been a gift from God. I really don't know?

Yes! My one grandmother had a stroke, and was sick for about 3 years. There was a point where the family all got together because it appeared to be her last day. They waited and waited, and she survived the day, and at one point, she seemed to get better than she was for the previous 3 years. Unfortunately she died the next morning. My other grandmom was sick with a heart condition, and near the end, she never wanted to eat. Then a few hours before she passed away, she was very hungry and thrilled to eat her favorite food! Chipper and everything. With regards to animals, the dog next door had suffered from pancreatitis, and was suffering for about 2 days with a bad bout. At one point, he started running around and acting like all was fine. Unfortunately he got worse and they had to put him to sleep a few hours later, but your theory holds true again - at least for the limited experiences I had with death. To answer your question, I have no idea what the cause is (sorry). I just wonder if they body tries one last time to use all its energy in one big spurt to "repair" itself...

Yes. There is this surge that runs through the body and brain, and because the patient always knew when the time is up, they tried very hard to let people know that they are ok. And then afterwards, all the strenght that was in the "surge" are used up so quick - then death comes next. Especially in cancer patient.

This happened to my step-dad. He fought the spreading cancer for 2 years. Knowing he would die, he & my mom decided to remodel an old duplex back into a one family home. It took almost a year (we kids did most the work).

The day we said it's done, he said amen. He had a less painful day & died in my mom's arms that night.

I think it is acceptance of death & a huge relief is felt which must affect the perception of pain during those last hours.

I have seen this (as a nurse) a few times in the adults I have nursed. There are many thoughts as to why this happens. It could be that with all the medicines such as strong morphine based pain killers and sedatives that the person really does feel peaceful and pain free. It could be the fact that they know they are close to death that it gives them the final energy to see loved ones and say goodbye.

While this does not happen all of the time, it does happen.

My uncle had a heart attack and was improving. The doctors were going to release him from the hospital the next morning and that night he sat straight up in the bed, took a deep breath, laid his head back down and he was gone.

We may never know the answer...

Yes, this happened with my father. He was hospitalised, in a coma, for 1.5 months. The day before he was going to be taken to our home for home care, he came out of it and sat up, with help. He was not able to talk because of a tracheostomy but he was able to gesture and point out family members when their names were mentioned. We were all overjoyed. But he died the next morning. It was a huge shock. To have our hopes up sky high, dashed like that, 15 years on it still hurts....