Sir, – Over 70 years ago my mother found herself seeking refuge in a mother-and-baby home, St Patrick’s on the Navan Road, having been evicted by her father. She refused to give her baby up for adoption and remained in the home with her baby for a time, breast-feeding and taking care of her baby.
There was an outbreak of gastroenteritis while my mother was there and many of the babies succumbed and died. My sister survived. My mother asked the nuns if my sister could be quarantined but they refused. She approached the doctor one day on his rounds and explained that her baby was healthy and could she be quarantined and he agreed.He also asked her if she would breast-feed some of the other babies. She did. My mother later married and she is now 94. My sister is the mainstay of our family. – Yours, etc,
NUALA
DAWSON-O’DRISCOLL,
Salrock, Renvyle,
Co Galway.