A California hospice nurse is pulling back the curtain on what people regret most in their final moments—and it’s a stark reminder to cherish life while you still can.
Julie McFadden, a veteran nurse who has cared for over 100 patients in their final days, says the biggest regret she hears isn’t what you might expect.
“The main thing people say, that I don’t hear a lot of people mention, is ‘I wish I would have appreciated my health,’” McFadden revealed during an interview on Rob Moore’s “Disruptors” podcast.
Known as “Hospice Nurse Julie” on her YouTube channel, McFadden regularly shares insights into the dying process, from the physical signs of death to the emotional struggles people face as their time nears.
One recurring theme, she says, is people wishing they had taken more time to appreciate the little things.
“I like the fact that I can breathe, I’m walking around, I can feel the sunshine — little things like that,” she said, explaining her own nightly practice of writing a gratitude list to stay grounded.
McFadden, who previously worked in intensive care, says her career has given her a unique perspective on both life and death.
“I think because of my job, it’s easier for me to see how once-in-a-lifetime this is,” she said.
“The fact that everything works together in our bodies to make us live and grow… and I see that in death too. I see how our bodies are biologically built to die.”
While McFadden works to demystify death, she also highlights the troubling reality that dying in the U.S. often comes with a hefty price tag.
“Generally speaking, it helps to have money to die well, which I think is really unfortunate,” she said, pointing out that hospice care isn’t free in America.
For working-class families, this can mean a heavy financial and emotional burden, as they may have to take on end-of-life care responsibilities themselves.
“Only people with pretty extreme wealth can do that, which I think is really unfortunate,” McFadden said. “So I don’t think money does make you happy, but it helps—it certainly takes stress off of the situation.”
McFadden says one of her goals is to help people understand the dying process before they have to face it with a loved one—or themselves.
“I believe that people should know about the dying process before they’re actually going through it,” she said.
