Survivor of clinical death turned hospice nurse: the story of Daiga Ruka
After kidney failure and clinical death, Daiga Ruka had to postpone her dream of working in medicine for several years. She is now a nurse at the "Hospiss Māja" hospice, helping people at the end of life.
Daiga Ruka, a nurse at the hospice "Hospiss Māja" in Latvia, helps people every day in the final stage of their lives. A hospice is a care facility where people near the end of life receive pain relief and support. She told her story to the news portal Apollo.lv. Her path to this work began with a severe health crisis.
A dream put on hold
Ruka suffered kidney failure and went through clinical death. Because of this, her dream of working in medicine had to be postponed for several years. She later returned to hospital and became a nurse.
Work at the hospice
At "Hospiss Māja" she now eases patients' pain and listens to their last wishes. She also encourages relatives who are confused and unsure how to act.
In Ruka's view, until the very last moment a person needs more than care alone. He or she also needs dignity, closeness and the feeling of not being alone.
The headline of the original article quotes her words: "Life is unpredictable."
/nginx/o/2026/10/19/17982291t1hbb36.jpg)
