Hospice Nurse Shares Remarkable Last Wishes That Most People Have On Their Deathbeds

Nurse Julie McFadden opens the door to honest conversations about death, in order to ease fears on life’s final chapter.

Jesse

• Published in News
• December 29, 2024

Death is a topic most of us avoid like the plague—pun intended. It’s something we don’t think about, talk about, or even want to consider until it becomes unavoidable.

The irony is that death is the one universal certainty we all share, yet it’s cloaked in mystery, fear, and, often, silence. However, Julie McFadden, a hospice nurse, is on a mission to change that.

Julie is not your typical nurse. Sure, she’s dedicated to her patients and their care, but she’s also on a mission to educate the world about dying. With over 1.5 million TikTok followers and a book under her belt, Julie uses her platform to demystify what happens at the end of life.

But she’s not all clinical facts and somber tones. Julie shines a light on the natural beauty of the dying process, hoping to alleviate fears and help people live—and die—better.

The stories Julie shares aren’t just informative; they’re transformative. They push us to ask the uncomfortable questions: What really matters in the end? What would we wish we had done differently? And most importantly, what can we learn from those who have walked the road before us?

Scroll down if you'd like to hear Julie's thoughts...

For years, Nurse Julie has walked alongside those at life’s edge.

Through her years of experience, Julie has witnessed hundreds of people take their final breaths. Despite the diversity of her patients—different ages, backgrounds, and stories—two wishes consistently echo from their deathbeds.

The first is startling in its simplicity yet profound in its implications: “I wish I didn’t spend so much time at work.” It’s a sentiment we hear often but rarely take seriously until it’s too late. In a society that glorifies hustle culture and celebrates busyness, this regret hits hard.

For Julie, hearing this repeatedly reinforced how vital it is to strike a balance between ambition and living a life that fulfills us in other, deeper ways.

The second wish Julie hears even more often is one we might not expect: “I wish I would have appreciated my health.” Health, as they say, is wealth. Yet, how often do we take the time to celebrate the simple joys of being well? Breathing effortlessly, feeling the sun on our skin, moving without pain—these everyday miracles go unnoticed until illness strips them away.

Julie has taken this lesson to heart, creating a nightly gratitude list to remind herself of the small blessings in her life. It’s a habit she recommends for anyone wanting to avoid this common regret. “I like the fact that I can breathe, I’m walking around, I can feel the sunshine,” she shared. “Little things like that.”

Julie has noticed a striking pattern in the final wishes of those nearing the end of their lives.

For Julie, her mission isn’t just about preparing people for death—it’s about encouraging them to embrace life more fully. By pulling back the veil on the dying process, she gives us a gift that’s equal parts sobering and inspiring: the opportunity to live with intention.

So, what will you take away from her wisdom? Perhaps it’s time to pause, breathe, and appreciate the simple things. Because in the end, it’s often those simple things that mean the most.

Jesse