|
|
IN
THIS ISSUE:
Cover
Page
by Bro.
Pete Lapid
The
Father Speaks
by Fr.
Siegfrid Binzler
SPECIAL:
Place
of Refuge
By
Philip Yuson
Sharing
By
Tintin Magbitang
Our
Faith
By Fr.
KJ Veeger, MSC
Surabaya
Corner
By
Ramon Martillano
Sharing
By
Carolle Bautista
Here's
the Latest
By
Tintin Magbitang
Reflection
Homily
by
Fr.
Martinus
God
Answers Prayers
By
Beth Manibog
Saint
for the Month
|
|
-
- Catholic
Links
|
|
 - PROFILE
OF THE
- GENESIS
CATHOLIC COMMUNITY
|
|
|
|
-
 -
-
SHARING
-
-
 
-
June 2001, my whole
family had an unplanned home leave upon hearing about my mother’s
suspected illness. I had to convince her to undergo biopsy to confirm
if the mass in her lungs was really the cancer they suspected. The
procedure was simple and quick but Mommy had to stay in the hospital for
almost a week following complications from the minor surgery, her
asthma, hypertension, and sheer fear of the worse. My memory of her
then was a weak, cowardly person with a very low threshold for pain. I
was deeply worried as to how she can go through with this very painful
illness. And so we started praying for her healing, at the same time,
for courage and endurance for the months to come.
December 2001, six months later, she started to feel the
pain and was prescribed painkillers. She was further stricken by
osteoarthritis on the neck and left thigh making it very painful for her
to walk or even stand. She didn’t go through chemotherapy or radiation
treatments advised earlier by her oncologist, as there was no real
guarantee of cure and the possibility of complications with her other
illnesses. She had other plans on what to do with her remaining
months. There was more than enough time.
I decided to go
home January 2002, to spend some time with her during her last days.
The first thing that shocked me when I saw her was her silvery hair
instead of the usual black. We used to tease her of her vanity, as she
has always been so conscious of her looks. The 35 years of monthly
black-dying ritual was not the only thing she gave up. The daily
astringent/ moisturizer treatments, nail polish, make-ups and all the
works had to go, too, when she decided to adopt the holistic healing
approach or alternative treatment for cancer patients. Mommy’s lung
cancer healed her and freed her from physical insecurities. She also
had to slowly let go of all her physical possessions, while focusing
more on what she can bring to the next life. I was glad to know that
she has devoted her retirement years to active community and religious
service, even before knowing about her condition.
Lung cancer gave Mommy a chance to heal relationships,
too. Oftentimes, in the past year, I was silently wishing that she
would just die of a stroke, the genetic killer that claimed the lives of
her own father and brother. She herself had hypertension as far as I
can remember. It would have been less painful, but it can be sudden.
Cancer allowed Mommy’s immediate family to celebrate her last Christmas,
last birthday and last family reunion together with her. Something
which they haven’t done for the longest time. On her last three weeks
in the hospital she made a roll call of relatives and friends she wanted
to see and almost all of them came. One of them was a half-brother, the
eldest of five children in my grandfather’s extra-marital relationship.
Years ago, Mommy was the boldest among the siblings to pick up a fight
among these children and their mother. She wasn’t too proud of this she
confided to us once. After my grandfather died, the two families
reconciled. But it was only in my mother’s hospital bed that she really
humbled herself and sincerely sought forgiveness from her brother. A
sudden heart stroke would have deprived her of that genuine moment of
reconciliation.
Several terminal cancer patients visited Mommy often
wanting to know how she can face her illness in such a positive way.
Although she was deteriorating physically, I did notice that she was
growing stronger spiritually and emotionally.
Somehow through
her prayers and the prayers of the different communities she’s involved
in, she wasn’t really fighting the spread of the cancer cells but
instead embracing its power and turning it into courage. That has been
God’s plan for her. He wanted her to be healed by lung cancer to purify
her and make her worthy of her place in heaven.
Oftentimes we pray that when our hour of death comes, we
hope it will be quick and painless. It is but natural to fear
suffering. But Fr. Mau, a very close friend of Mommy, mentioned this
during her wake, “Cancer patients, by the nature of the pain they
suffer, are given the invitation to sainthood. The slow painful process
is actually a final test of faith.” During Mommy’s last weeks I would
often request prayers for her to just remain faithful until death.
Despite all the morphine and other painkillers administered by the
hospital, doctors admit that patients still feel the excruciating pain.
Mommy had her share, and for each seizure she experienced, she offered
the pain for someone she knows who was giving birth at that time, in
misery or undergoing some operation. When her hour finally came, the
Lord placed her into a deep peaceful sleep and led her into His kingdom,
as promised. She won’t be canonized or anything, but for the loved ones
she left behind, it made it easier for us to accept her passing away
knowing she has earned her place.
I also have something to thank cancer for - I had the
chance to tell Mommy how much I love her and to express my gratefulness
for all the things she has done for me, over coffee afternoons last
February. And I didn’t have to wait until the eulogy to do that.
All glory to GOD!
-
-
View the Genesis Guestbook
Sign the Genesis Guestbook
For comments, suggestions or
ideas,
Write us: Jl. Bacang
No. 20 Kebayoran Baru, Jakarta Selatan,
Indonesia
Call us: (6221)
720-3824
Fax us: (6221) 662-7384
Genesis
Catholic Community
- All
Rights Reserved 2002
No
part of this website may be copied, reproduced or modified without
the permission from the webmaster.
|
