Terminal Lucidity The Deception Of Dying Patients Springing Back To Life One Last Time

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IN A touching video clip, a digital creator shared the experience of TikToker @emmelynnamal whose gravely ill father had displayed signs of sudden health improvement before passing on shortly after.
According to healthline.com, such medical condition known as “terminal lucidity” is a phenomenon whereby someone who has previously lost the ability to communicate or engage in other meaningful behaviours suddenly regains mental clarity or cognition.
However, terminal lucidity can also appear in people with other conditions such as brain damage from stroke or certain cancers who are nearing the end of their lives.
When someone experiences terminal lucidity, the episode usually only lasts for a few hours or days at most (36 hours in the case of the above netizen’s dad).
During these episodes, the person may be able to do things he/she previously couldn’t such as:
Recognise people around themRemember who or where they areRecall memories from their pastAsk for their favourite foodSpeak in full, clear sentencesRespond to questions from othersStand up and walk or move aroundEngage in activities like singingTerminal lucidity is sometimes called “end-of-life rallying” because these episodes often happen shortly before someone’s death – usually in the hours or days before.

The rather educational clip which is reposted on X by Cikgu_Anep (@Cikgu_Anep) has interestingly been viewed 693.7K times at the time of writing with many netizens, too, having gone through similar experiences with their loved ones.
One commenter thought she was experiencing a miracle as her seriously ill father suddenly showed amazing recovery. Filled with hope, her world came crashing down when informed that the patriarch had passed on shortly after.

While another recounted a grannie’s final lucid moments – laughing and joking with close relatives – which she described as being very different from her usual demeanour. The grandmother then succumbed to a stroke shortly two days later during the fasting month.

Another recounted the sister of a friend who displayed amazing recovery following an accident. She thought something was amiss – probably a sign that her time was at an end – and true enough, the patient died a day after showing those signs of vast improvement.

Another pointed out that such patients would request their favourite foods or indulge in their normal routines. Many will think this a miracle but it is a mere short-lived reminder from the Almighty of the way they once were.

One commented that this was a sign that the body had given up and could no longer feel pain or suffering.

One netizen summed up the phenomenon quite eloquently by likening it to a candle about to be extinguished, hence it would emit the last burst of brightness before burning out for good (Editor’s Note: The Hokkien community in Penang has a proverb which likened terminal lucidity to “the sun is setting in one’s life”.)

As life is short, do enjoy the presence of loved ones to the fullest before it’s too late. – Focus Malaysia

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