End-of-life nurse says there is one movement people frequently make that means they are close to death

Hospice nurse Katie Duncan has witnessed countless individuals pass from this world to the next. But among the many experiences she has observed, one behavior has left a lasting impression — and sparked widespread conversation online. She describes it as a “mystical” moment that often occurs in the final hours or minutes of life: patients reaching upward, as if trying to grasp something just beyond reach.

This seemingly simple gesture has captivated the hearts of many. According to Duncan, the motion is not random. Time and again, she has watched dying patients slowly lift their hands or stretch their arms toward the ceiling, often with an expression of peace or quiet wonder on their face. While science might offer no clear explanation, Duncan believes these moments are deeply spiritual. “They reach up like they’re trying to touch something or someone,” she says. “I truly believe they see their loved ones waiting for them.”

In her view, this reaching gesture is part of a larger experience many people undergo as they near death — a transition filled with calm, beauty, and sometimes connection with the unseen. She refers to it as a “mystical” part of the dying process, a final sign of comfort that eases the fear of the unknown.

Duncan’s insight, originally shared on social media and through interviews, struck a powerful chord. Her reflections quickly went viral, resonating with thousands of people who had witnessed similar behavior in their own loved ones. Comments and replies poured in from around the world. Many recounted stories of mothers, fathers, grandparents, or even young children who lifted their arms skyward in their final breaths — often with a serene look on their face.

“I saw my grandmother do that,” one person shared. “She whispered my grandpa’s name, who had passed years before, and smiled.” Another wrote, “My father reached out and said, ‘They’re here.’ He died just minutes later.”

While medical professionals can explain some aspects of dying — such as terminal restlessness or changes in brain chemistry — many hospice workers and families alike describe these final moments as something beyond clinical explanation. There is a growing belief that, for some, the boundary between life and death thins in the final hours, allowing glimpses of what may lie beyond.

Far from being frightening, these experiences are often described as comforting, even beautiful. They bring peace to families who are grieving and offer reassurance that their loved one was not alone at the end.

Katie Duncan continues to care for the dying with compassion and dignity. Her hope is that by sharing these intimate and emotional observations, she can help demystify the dying process and remove some of the fear that often surrounds it.

“Dying doesn’t have to be scary,” she says. “For many, it’s gentle. It’s peaceful. And if you’re lucky, you’re surrounded by love — both the living and the departed.”

As her message continues to spread, more people are opening up about their own experiences, finding solace in the idea that something greater — something unseen — might be waiting for us at the end. Whether one calls it spiritual, mystical, or merely unknown, the final moments of life often reveal a quiet beauty that transcends words.