Julie McFadden, a hospice nurse, has spent years supporting people through the final stages of life. She shares her knowledge to ease the fear and mystery around death, often posting videos about what really happens as someone nears the end.
Her goal is to educate families and normalize the dying process. Julie explains common behaviors like Cheyne–Stokes breathing—a pattern of rapid breaths followed by pauses. Though alarming to loved ones, it doesn’t mean the person is suffering.
Another often misunderstood sign is the “death rattle.” This gurgling sound occurs when saliva builds up because the body no longer signals to swallow. Julie reassures families that this isn’t painful or distressing to the person dying.
With compassion and clarity, Julie emphasizes that the human body is designed to ease into death naturally. Her mission is to bring comfort through understanding, reminding us that dying can be a peaceful, even graceful, process.
