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The Art of Dying – Dr  Peter and Elizabeth Fenwick

My father died in March 2006 after suffering a major heart attack. He had spent a few days in hospital but signed himself out and returned home. We did not know at the time his prognosis was so poor but as a family we knew that things were not good after a consultant visited us at home to explain he was lucky to have left hospital.

He deteriorated that day, was confused but we still did not realize he was dying and so didn't get him back to hospital. He went to bed at about 9 p.m.  with my mother and I in the room, and he was very restless. He started to see wires hanging from the ceiling and insects on the bed, all very distressing.

At about midnight he started to fall asleep and became more restful. After about five minutes he sat up said  'Hi Dave, what are you doing here, it's good to see you.'

This was witnessed by my mother and I, and we couldn't believe it. He was calm, tranquil and quite lucid really. David was my mother's brother and good friend to Dad and he had died about 12 years before. Dad died shortly afterwards and in a quiet state, for which I am very grateful.