Hospice Nurse Shares: The Hardest and Most Peaceful Diseases to Die From

After years of guiding people through their final moments, California hospice nurse Julie McFadden has seen it all. Now, she candidly speaks about which illnesses cause the most suffering at the end of life, and which can provide a much gentler passing.

ALS: The Cruelest Way to Die

If there’s one illness McFadden immediately ranks as the hardest, it’s ALS, also called Lou Gehrig’s disease. “This is the cruelest death I have ever seen,” Julie said in an interview. ALS causes all voluntary muscles in the body to gradually stop working. Over time, patients lose the ability to move, speak, swallow, and eventually breathe—yet the mind remains clear. People are trapped in failing bodies, fully aware of what’s happening.

“It’s terrible to watch someone you love waste away, knowing they’re still there,” said one commentator, reflecting on her father’s struggle. By 2030, an estimated 36,300 people in the U.S. will be diagnosed with ALS. The disease is always fatal, with half of those affected dying within 14 months of diagnosis, and no cure in sight.

Commenters online echoed this pain: “I knew she’d say ALS. My father died from it, the worst thing I’ve ever experienced,” said one. Another added, “My grandmother has ALS. It’s terrifying to watch her decline.”

Glioblastoma: Another Harsh Disease

The second illness McFadden names is glioblastoma, a very aggressive form of brain cancer. “It takes everything: your memory, motor skills, your personality. And it happens so fast,” she explains.

This cancer is known for frightening symptoms: seizures, memory loss, confusion, unbearable headaches. Most patients die within a year and a half of diagnosis. Families often feel like they’re witnessing loved ones vanish in real time.

The average patient survives 12–18 months. Only one in four lives longer than one year, and fewer than five out of a hundred survive five years. “He was gone before he died. That’s what made it so hard,” said one woman about her husband’s struggle.

A Surprisingly Serene Exit: End-Stage Kidney Failure

McFadden notes that end-stage kidney failure, especially when dialysis is intentionally stopped, can lead to a particularly peaceful death. “When patients stop dialysis, they just get sleepier—and then they don’t wake up,” she explains. “It’s peaceful. It’s painless. And it gives families time to say goodbye.”

Many families see this as a gift: a chance to control the process, surrounded by love and without pain. One person shared: “We played music, held his hand, and he just drifted away. In its own way, it was beautiful.” Another wrote, “My father died of advanced kidney disease. He stopped dialysis when he was ready. We all got to say goodbye on his terms. He was at peace.”

Why These Insights Matter

McFadden’s stories are about more than just medicine. They speak to dignity, comfort, and humanity during life’s last chapter. As society grapples with how to care for elders and the terminally ill, these honest conversations have never been more important. Hospice professionals like McFadden provide rare, unvarnished truths about what dying is really like—and how we might improve it.

Ultimately, death is inevitable, but not all deaths are the same. From the silent suffering of ALS, to the chaos of glioblastoma, to the rare serenity of kidney failure, McFadden’s message is clear: how we die matters. With the right support, even the hardest farewells can be filled with love.

Learn more about Julie McFadden and her hospice reflections on her Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hospicenursejulie/?hl=en

Source: https://nl.newsner.com/gezondheid/ergste-ziekte-om-aan-te-sterven/