When you know someone is dying, what signs are there that it won't be long?!


Question: My Granddaddy has bone cancer, its everywhere. The doctors gave him 4-5 weeks to live and that was January 7th. He is not doing well at all. Yesterday he had a terrible day. My Mom said his color was grayish, feet and stomach are hugely swollen, he was very aggitated during the day, of course he has no appetite that has been gone for a while, and he was hard to wake up yesterday afternoon. I don't think he will make it as long as the doctors say. I am so sad and I want to be ready, I want to know if you know from the medical field of things or personal experience, when the signs appear, how far away is the end. I know my Granddaddy will be in Heaven where he will have no more pain, for that I am truley grateful.

Thank you, and God Bless.


Answers: My Granddaddy has bone cancer, its everywhere. The doctors gave him 4-5 weeks to live and that was January 7th. He is not doing well at all. Yesterday he had a terrible day. My Mom said his color was grayish, feet and stomach are hugely swollen, he was very aggitated during the day, of course he has no appetite that has been gone for a while, and he was hard to wake up yesterday afternoon. I don't think he will make it as long as the doctors say. I am so sad and I want to be ready, I want to know if you know from the medical field of things or personal experience, when the signs appear, how far away is the end. I know my Granddaddy will be in Heaven where he will have no more pain, for that I am truley grateful.

Thank you, and God Bless.

I lost my grandmother to a similar type of cancer 2 years ago in February. They had Hospice come in and be with her for the last few weeks. They told us on a Friday that she probably wouldn't make it through the weekend, but she ended up hanging on until early Tuesday morning. From what I remember, she just started slipping away. I got in town on that Saturday before she passed and she was "in and out".. recognizing people. It was like she would sleep or had her eyes closed more and more as the days/hours went by. Her breathing got heavier and with bigger pauses in between. Then the night before she died she was pretty much unresponsive, unless she had something to tell you. She started telling me what all she was seeing.. saying things like "Look at all those flowers, can't you see them?" and talking about Mary holding a baby.. it really was amazing. But when she finally passed, she just took a deep breath, exhaled, and that was it.

There really is no way to prepare yourself. You might think you are, but you're not. You just have to realize that when it happens, he won't be in any more pain and that he's somewhere so amazing that we can't even begin to imagine. God bless you, your family, and your grandaddy.

Can't help with your actual question, but I can tell you (and I'm talking as a medical student who was told this by several lecturers last year), people who seem unconscious can usually still hear you on some level. If you hold his hand, and talk to him, he might not be able to respond, he might not understand your words, but he'll know you're there with him.

Praying would be great in preparing yourself. Let God comfort you.

I'm a nurse and I have had patients who died on my watch before. Instead of looking for signs as to when someone is to die, why not be by their side the whole time and tell them how much you love them.

Be strong.
God bless you.

First deepest sympathy for your situation, I know full well, what you and you family are going through, myself and our family have gone through this many times with elderly close relatives, of course I am unable to comment on specific cases, I am not qualified to do that I only wish I could help, a person dying is an individual thing not an exact science. With your granddaddy's illness.
Qualified medics give a good sense of when that passing is likely to be, for you, and your families peace of mind, speak to the attending Doctor that is the best thing you can do. May God be with you, and, your family.

I'm sorry to read about your grandfather,,,,,again like one commentor stated, he may seem out of it, not awake or in a coma, but he still can hear you. Talk to your family and tell them this...Grandpa need to know its ok to let go and be with God. Then as a family you need to talk to grandpa and tell him you love him and you will miss his but they are waiting for him in heaven, (God, even maybe gramma, his parents, brothers sisters, etc.) Some dying people try to hold on because they don't want to leave the living disappointed. I know it sounds twisted but, if you give him permission to go, then it WILL be easier for him to follow the light.

OMG why do i have tears right now? I feel My God telling me to type this to you as i know you don't want grandpa to suffer.





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