I have known one or two individuals who, when confronted with their own impending death, have reacted with amazing fortitude.
My mother had heart problems, cancer, breathing difficulty and an incredibly positive attitude. When hospitalised for the final time, aged 90, she enjoyed her food and wondered if she should share her fearless response to death. I advised against.
The inevitably of death does not make it easier to deal with. Whether you were walking towards the enemy’s machine guns during the first world war or lying in a hospital bed during the early days of the AIDS epidemic, people react differently.
Perhaps the legacy of the person dying and the way they want to be remembered has something to do with their courageous behaviour. No matter what the explanation, their courage helps their loved ones to deal with their loss
odespinner 