Most people worry about how they’ll live, not how much it costs to die. But for TikToker Jordan (@soiledinstyle), who is a hospice nurse, one heartbreaking conversation with a young patient exposed a reality that many people don’t want to think about.
She has a young patient who is dying and needs to make plans for the end of her life. She was looking into cremations because those are usually cheaper than caskets.
Still, they are expensive, and this patient told Jordan that she cannot financially afford to die.
“When she said that, I wanted to vomit, as well as I felt like something daggered into my chest, and I looked at her, and she said, I can’t afford $2,400 to die,” Jordan recalled.
Jordan made some calls and got the costs down to $1,600, but her patient still can’t afford it. She asked if anyone could help out with contributing to the costs.
If not, Jordan is planning to pay for everything out of her own pocket. So far, they have received many donations and are up to $1,040.
“I’m just so grateful because the dignity this person will have, and their peace, it’s unwavering,” said Jordan tearfully.
“It is so amazing. Like, there are so many good people. It’s like she’s surrounded by a garden of sunlight, of peace and rest, and like, she deserves it.”
“And the fact that so many people, without even knowing the story, gave, I just have so much gratitude for good people.”
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Jordan got into nursing to help others, and she will continue to serve them in any way she can. In a follow-up video, she announced that they had finally reached their goal.
Her patient will now be able to afford the end of her life. It was a beautiful example of community coming together for the greater good.
The comments section quickly filled with others sharing similar stories, highlighting a harsh truth. Death is expensive, and too many people face it with concern about cost
“I had a patient on hospice care a week ago. He stopped eating a week prior on purpose to ‘speed things up.’ He told me he felt bad that he wasn’t dying fast enough because the long-term care costs, coupled with hospice costs, and he was worried about his savings being gone. His wife is still alive. I hate it here,” commented one user.
“I totally get it. My husband passed away extremely fast from lung cancer on the 19th of October almost nine weeks ago, and I can’t pay his cremation of $7,200 either and being the holidays I have found no help from anyone. I understand,” wrote another.
“My husband died on June 27, and it cost $3,200 to have him cremated. I had to sell his hunting gear and use credit cards to have him cremated,” stated a third.
By Emily Chan
Emily Chan is a writer who covers lifestyle and news content. She graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in... More about Emily Chan
