Saying a final goodbye to someone we love is one of the hardest moments in life. Many people express their love through a last kiss or touch—a gesture filled with tenderness, grief, and deep connection. However, medical experts gently remind us that in certain situations, especially when the person passed away from an infectious illness, such physical contact may carry health risks.
Dr.
Viktor Ivanovik, a physician from Moldova, recently brought attention to this matter, emphasizing the importance of safety during farewells. In rare instances, infectious diseases such as hepatitis B or C, tuberculosis, and other transmissible conditions may still be present in bodily fluids shortly after death. While the risk is low, it is not entirely absent—particularly when the cause of death involves a contagious condition.
For this reason, health professionals encourage families to seek guidance from medical teams or funeral directors before making physical contact with the deceased.
Love and respect can still be expressed through safe alternatives—such as placing a gentle hand over the heart (without direct contact), offering flowers, writing messages of love, or holding a peaceful candlelight tribute. These thoughtful acts allow families to say goodbye with dignity and emotional closeness, without compromising well-being.
In the end, the depth of our love is not defined by a final touch, but by the memories we treasure, the stories we share, and the way we carry that person within us. Choosing a farewell that is both heartfelt and safe honors their life—and protects those who remain.
Grief can be tender, meaningful, and beautiful, even without a kiss.
A woman lived on the 8th floor of my building for 50 years. She kept to herself and rarely interacted with anyone. Last month, she peacefully passed away.
Soon after, the authorities contacted me and asked if I could accompany them to her apartment, as my name had been mentioned in her records. As I stepped inside, I was deeply moved: my entire childhood was displayed across her walls.
Every corner of her home featured framed drawings I had created as a child—little doodles I used to leave near her door on my way to school. I often placed small flowers under her welcome mat, hoping they might brighten her day.
I never knew whether she noticed them until that moment.
The story doesn’t end here –
it continues on the next page.
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