Terminal lucidity, sometimes called end of life rallying, is a phenomenon seen among terminally ill patients where they experience a sudden influx of energy, alertness, and awareness before death.<br />It's a heart-wrenching story inspired by true events witnessed by hospice and hospital workers, as well as the loved ones of people with terminal illnesses. We know it happens, but what is terminal lucidity, and why does it happen?<br />What is terminal lucidity?<br />“The (re-)emergence of normal or unusually enhanced mental abilities in dull, unconscious, or mentally ill patients shortly before death, including considerable elevation of mood and spiritual affectation, or the ability to speak in a previously unusual spiritualized and elated manner.”<br /> Terminal lucidity has even seen people who had been living with dementia for years return to their former cognitive function, only to die sometime after.<br />How long before death can it happen?<br />The gap between terminal lucidity and time of death has triggered debate around the phenomenon’s name, with further research having recoined it “paradoxical lucidity” owing to the fact that the state of mental clarity can kick in hours, days, weeks, or even months before death.<br />Why does it happen?<br />According to the 2009 review, historical cases of terminal lucidity were explained as consequences of the way our brain physiology changes when we’re dying, though detailed explanations to support this were lacking. It’s a particularly puzzling phenomenon to work out, as it’s seen among patients whose brain function is considered to be irreversibly damaged by disease, as in the case of Alzheimer’s. How, then, is it possible for seemingly deleted memories to be made accessible again?<br />The answer, for now, is that we don’t know. Accounts of terminal lucidity have seen people overcome disease and brain injury such as brain abscesses, stroke, and tumors to recall memories and people it was thought they had lost.<br />Terminal lucidity, paradoxical lucidity, end of life rallying, or The Surge we might not agree on what exactly to call it, but we can all agree it is truly remarkable.<br /><br /><br />By: Dr. Mohammed Sami Hassan