As you prepare to take your last breath

To the person preparing to take their last breath…

I want you to know that you are not invisible here. Even as your body grows tired, even as words come less easily, your presence fills the room. You are still teaching us what love looks like, simply by the way you are allowing us to walk with you through this part of your journey.

You may feel the world rushing around you; medications, check-ins, whispers in the hallway, but I see you. I see the person who has lived, loved, laughed, struggled, and carried stories only you can carry. You are more than what’s happening to your body right now.

As you take these final steps, know this: you are not alone. We are here, holding space for your breath, for your memories, for your dignity. And we will remember, not just that you died, but that you lived.

Death and dying isn’t only about those providing the care, it is and always will be about the person preparing to take their last breath. Until that moment comes, you deserve to be seen, held, and truly acknowledged.

With love,

Gabby