The Woman from County Meath

The Woman from County MeathThe warmth of the Dublin day caught everyone by surprise. Through the window I could see children playing in the garden. We had walked into the visitors' room. The family was waiting. They were from County Meath. He was a farmer, only 54, she a teacher. They had 7 children. It was clear that he was dying. He had battled seemingly intractable pain but now over the past few days was much more settled.

I spoke about the past days and what to expect from this point onward. I then concentrated on the family themselves and recommended, as we do, the usual things—that they each take turns in being with him, that they try to eat and sleep, that they talk to each …