My Alzheimer's Journey
Part 167 - Death and Remembering Senator Lindsey Graham
This is a rare Sunday post triggered by the sudden death of Senator Lindsey Graham.
As a South Carolina native and a political junkie, I have a deep understanding of Senator Graham’s legislative career. While Senator Graham and I rarely agreed on political matters, he was a good, kind, and decent human being. He was politically astute. He understood what the majority of South Carolinians wanted. From education to civil rights, Senator Graham worked hard in Washington to craft laws and guide them through the political process.
I find it fascinating that no matter how mad Senator Graham made the citizens of South Carolina, he always won reelection. I suppose that is indicative of his political prowess. Or, maybe his southern charm.
I recall four issues that resulted in significant backlash:
Senator Graham angered conservative voters early in his Senate career by working with Democrats on comprehensive immigration reform, notably championing the DREAM Act.
A fierce critic of Donald Trump in 2016, Senator Graham later became one of his staunchest allies. This dramatic shift alienated moderate Republicans and progressives who were frustrated by his loyalty to the former president.
Senator Graham’s persistent advocacy for aggressive military intervention abroad - including continued support for conflicts in the Middle East and increased tensions with Iran - drew criticism from local voters and anti-war advocates who felt the policies were disconnected from South Carolina families
Most recently, Senator Graham has been accused of prioritizing Washington D.C. politics and television appearances over local, constituent-focused work and town hall meetings.
As South Carolina’s political leanings are slowly changing, Senator Graham’s strict conservative beliefs are falling out of favor with many people. Due in large part to his absence in the state, Senator Graham faced strong opposition in this year’s election. Many people believe Democrat Dr. Annie Andrews has the best chance of taking over the Senate seat since Senator Graham won in 2002.
For now, the focus should be on honoring the man who gave so much to South Carolina.
Since my Alzheimer’s diagnosis, I often think about death. I study the end-of life process with the goal of preparing myself for the inevitable. In fact, I wrote a blog post November 7, 2025, about death.
Not everyone expects to die. Most people die from tragic accidents, violence, and sudden illness. Senator Graham did not expect to die last night. He was scheduled to appear on a television political program today. I suspect he had a busy week planned, and he was thinking about his schedule after returning from Ukraine. Suddenly, he had chest pains and efforts to revive him were unsuccessful.
With my curiosity about death, I researched how Senator Graham may have felt during his last hours and minutes. When experiencing chest pain, many people believe they are dying. This overwhelming fear is clinically known as a sense of impending doom. It is a recognized physiological and psychological warning sign often triggered by sudden changes in heart function or the nervous system during life-threatening medical events.1 The brain recognizes the danger and activates the primitive "fight-or-flight" response, which causes an intense surge of panic alongside physical symptoms - like, chest pains.
While science views death as the end of biological processes, many cultures and religions view it as a spiritual transition.
Not only does a person die, their hopes, dreams, plans, and careers cease to exist. Unless, someone picks up the torch and works to continue those dreams and plans. It would be a great honor for Senator Graham if the war in Ukraine can finally come to an end.
Most importantly, I hope Senator Graham died peacefully.
https://www.healthline.com/health/feeling-of-impending-doom#causes