One Week Of Suffering


Often I think of a book I read during the World War 2 that is - Caryll Houselander's "This war is the Passion". There, she saw Christ still
suffering in war - torn places. Working as I do in a large Children's Hospital - Budimex - I am daily reminded that the suffering Christ is
still amongst us and we are privileged to try and ease that pain.

This week I saw some of the greatest suffering being experienced by children and parents. In one room there were three mothers each with an extremely ill child. There lay little 4 year old Andre with a huge external mega colon. Mother looked pleadingly at me - "Sister -please - can you help with pampers". Of course I could but I also had a
soft rubbery police car which could be worked by pulling a string - all
so easy for a little boy who could barely move.

In the second bed lay Cosmin an 11 year old cancer patient who had just had another operation to have a tumor removed. He was
violently sick but smiled faintly when he saw me leave a dinosaur sticker book for him.

In bed no: 3 lay little Emmanuela. Her mother sat there traumatized by the fact that doctors held little hope for her child, Emmanuela was
born minus anti-trombone 3 in her system. This means that, by
degrees her body turns black and swollen. Both feet are so affected that there was fear of amputation. Worst of all, her tongue was so swollen and black and she could not eat. No way could mother buy the medicine needed.
How could we help? The doctor assured us that only one thing could keep Emmanuela alive and, hopefully, active. No sooner said than done. We got in touch with a company in Bucharest who, within a few hours supplied the so needed medicine. As I write these words, Emmanuela has just started her treatment, now, together with mother we are praying God to finish what we have just started. The mother's tears will be replaced with peace I know.
Today too I spent some time with Florin, Gabrielle and Radu in the Rehabilitation Centre. It touched my heart to see how Florin and Gabrielle struggled to walk to my room where they knew some "treasures" might be in the boxes there. Radu, 9 years old just looked on. He is totally confined in a chair for he has been brain damaged through a fall into deep water and being deprived of oxygen for a time. Nevertheless it was a joy to see him able to move his eyes. Gaby and Florin managed to pick a toy and struggle back to mama. These are only three of the sixty or so physically handicapped children here. It was amazing how the mothers of these children and also many of other mothers succeed to remain brave in face of such problems.
Seeing their children struggle for every move.
For me, it is clear that the power which sustains them is a great gift
from God.

Even the suffering of the children and the indescribable pain of the mothers could block any activity yet these mothers understand and help each other tenderly and efficiently! A shining example of Christian love and care!

Yes one week of suffering! Sister Mary Aloysius