ANSWERS: 49
  • actually yes I would.... and yes I have...and yes it was heartbreaking
  • Without hesitation.
  • Yes i would, sometimes you need someone by your side no matter what you have done in the past.
  • Most certainly would... It would be very hard for me but I would do it with no questions asked!!
  • Definitely... and I hope someone would find it in their hearts to do the same for me...
  • absolutely!
  • Yes definitely, I did it for a poor woman from India whose family couldn't be bothered to come see her.
  • Yes, I have done this more than once in my lifetime. It was an absolute honor and privilege to be one of the last people in the world they would see! Of one such senior -- a very, very close guy-pal -- I asked, 'If you could leave me with one thing to remember, what would you say?' This dear one answered: • Do I love who I am? • Do I love what I do? • Do I love whom I'm with? • Do I love where I live. I have carried his message with me each and every day.
  • I have done so.
  • Absolutely. I don't see death as a necessarily bad thing, but it seems like a very basic, intimate connection, to sit and simply spend time with another human being before you pass away, and having to die completely isolated, cut off from humanity, and denied that basic human kinship is a fate no one deserves (Unless of course privacy is what they want). And although my main interest in doing it would be to help make the person's last days more pleasant and enjoyable, I think I could probably glean a lot of insight and wisdom on living and appreciating my own life from the experience.
  • Absolutely..No one should die alone :)
  • Yes, I would even though it would tear me apart.
  • It is part of my role in life!
  • If ever I was asked this, yes I would, I wouldn't promise not to cry, but I would hold their hand as long as they wanted.
  • Sure I would. I would actually regard it as an honor.
  • Absolutely.
  • Absolutely. I tried to volunteer at at a nursing home but since I'm on phenobarbital for seizures, I failed their drug test. If they had given me the chance to get a note from my doctor, I really think I could have made a difference
  • I would. My Mother died all alone, and it is a terrible thing to find out, after the fact.
  • Yeah man. I think I'd be a good person to have by your side when you die, because I'm not terribly morbid about it. It's good to have someone to laugh with or talk seriously about what might be next when you go.
  • yeah i would of course if they didn't have a family beacause then theyr family would bu basicly yeah
  • If I was there and the need was there, yes I would have compassion. Would I arrange to spend certain days in the hospital in case someone needs this service. No, I don't think I would. I work more spur of the moment when I comes to strangers and charity(love).
  • yes, done that
  • Yes, I would gladly give my time for something that might make someones passing easier.
  • yes as much as that oerson needs
  • is the least u can do for a dying person
  • Yes, if they wanted me to sit there. Dying is the loneliest process there is... so if my sitting there makes a difference, why not?
  • I would. I would hope somebody would do the same for me if I was alone when my time came.
  • What a beautiful question. I have in the past. I was working in a nursing home and since I was putting myself through college I worked as manay holidays weekends and nights as I possible could. Many of the people that I cared for were abandoned by their families for whatever reason(two sides to every story). I sat with this old woman who had years ago been a governess for a wealthy family.She never married, no children but I guess her previous employer had taken very good care of her. I swear on a stack of bibles when she had passed her face looked younger.It was so beautiful compared to the fragile, bunched up figure that had been in that bed for so long, (15 yrs). Nothing more humane than to keep someone company when they pass. No one should die alone. Even if its a stranger that just holds their hand as they take their last breath.
  • YES!! And, I am experienced! Allow me to share an experience with you... One of the 'best' times I've had in my life ... well, one of the most MEMORABLE of many ... was having the literal pleasure (and heartache) of attending a fabulous man who in his eighties was 'on his way' ,,, he was very ill. I literally lived in their home for over a month. He and his Mrs. -- also in her eighties -- asked if I would be willing to sit with this old pal, dearest of friends while she would go skiing in Europe one last time, herself. She had his complete and total blessing, making it possible for her to leave! Of course she did ... THEY were madly in love with each other. (One of my own role models for 'great marriage.') One of the most lasting experience's with this dying male pal was this: One early afternoon, the sun all shining, lighting up the sea like crystal sparkles, I was aiding Mr. to sip some chicken soup I had prepared. after having propping up his sweet, white haired hair on several pillows. Before lunch, I had helped him outside on what we call here in the islands a 'lanai,' kind of like a patio. He, the humor-fest guy as always, was doing his damnedest to make ME feel comfortable. (Unbelievable!) Anyway, after a while, our warmest of conversations got around to talking about 'things important' when I suddenly felt free enough to turn to him and ask "So, my loving friend ... is there any thing or any Life comment you'd like to pass on to me?" The Mr. tilted his head, got a twinkle in his eye and almost whispered, "I didn't know if anyone ... well ... ANYONE would ask me for my idea of Life at this late stage..." He continued, "Every year, if you can think to do it, ask yourself these four questions ... 1. Do I love who I am? 2. Do I love what I do? 3. Do I love whom I'm with? 4. Do I love where I live?" Right after sharing this with me Mr. fell peacefully asleep, right there under what we call here an 'Umbrella tree,' light dappling his body in our island sun. I sat there ... watching at him just breathing for the longest time. I gazed while a light wind play with wisps of his hair; his breathing soft, sweet, almost like a soundless whisper themselves, his breath. There was no denying it, my friend at that moment felt ... well ... peaceful. I felt so blessed to be there that moment .... to have known this amazing human being, this man I called 'friend,' this man who returned this privilege back to me for so many dozens of years. Just a week after his wife returned from Europe -- and a week after I left -- my old friend passed away. Many dozens of swimmers, including me, took dozens and dozens of lei's out to the sea while our friend 'enjoyed' his sea burial to the sounds of surf and songs, the sun setting. His words still live with me ... with my own beloved = Every year beloved and I take literally separate one weekend holiday's away ... alone. And you can guess not only why we do this and have done this for years and years now ... but ... you KNOW what each of us asks when we are away. When we return to each other, we light a candle in honor of that friend, and begin sharing and talking about what we discovered while apart. The answer to all four questions has always been a resounding "YES!" for both of us!
  • I would definitely do it unless a dying person is a criminal who killed people in the past.
  • Yes. Been there. And I can only hope that when my own day comes, someone will also say ... a simple ... yes.
  • Im not saying this to try to sound rude. But I would not do it for just anyone. I am entirely afraid of death, & with that being said I would only "sit by a dying persons side" if it was a family member or a very close friend.
  • yes I would someone needed me to. I met a very lovely (sister) that works in a hospital and she would sit by their side and talk to them and soothe them. She would sit for hours. What an inspiration shs is. Surely there is a special place for people like her with a heart of gold.
  • I regret having gone home when my wife died. Had I realized she was going to pass I would have stayed at the hospital. Fortunately, the nurse was with her when she passed. She said my wife was asleep, and suddenly opened her eyes, raised up on her elbow, looked across the room, and said"Oh" like she saw something or someone. Then she passed away. Wish I had been there!
  • Sure I would. Hello Mr BLT! :)
  • It would be very depressing and would weigh heavily on me, but if they wanted me to, I could not turn them down, and If there was nobody else there, I would definitely stay there.
  • Yes. I was with my Mom when she died. Didn't think I could do it, but thank God that I had that opportunity. Dying alone seems so sad to me, but there are many people who prefer it that way.
  • Only if I knew them.
  • yes i would, it would be horrid to die alone, and i hope when the time comes i would have someone with me.
  • Absolutely.
  • I would do that for a lonely old person I dont even know. I can imagine that kind of feeling!
  • Definitely, I think they're last moments on earth should be reasonably happy ones.
  • There hae been three occasions when I was in the room with a person near death - father-in-law, mother-in-law, and seven-year-old nephew. Neither of the in-laws was conscious, and unaware (as far as we know) of what was going on. I have never forgotten that my nephew, at the last moment, tried to raise himself as he said to my sister, "Mama! I can see Jesus!"
  • I would
  • That one is really difficult! I couldn't make demise pouches either for the poor little babies that never made it to the world alive. I don't think I'd be the right one for that. The second time I came home crying because a patient died my ex asked me to quit my job at the nursing home. Kudos to those who can do it without harm to themselves and their family mentally.
  • I've done that 6 times now, the last one was with my dad. Dying people just are not as giving as one might think.
  • I would do that.

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