It was 2004 and our “Meals on Wheels” Programme was at its beginnings. Ever since back then we were all driven by a great deal of enthusiasm and dedication. We knew that Lawside Romania Project can be a good thing for the lives of so many here in Romania.
When Father Joseph, then Parish Priest of St. Therese’s church, Bucharest introduced us to the plight of some elderly people in his care, we never realised how this caring would develop at a rate and in a way that truly surprised us. It was definitely worth considering this Project.
Firstly – visiting the poorest people and getting a picture of their needs.
Secondly – setting in place a means of ensuring daily food for each – our “Meals on Wheels” Programme.
Thirdly – realising the loneliness of the lives of most and getting a group of youths who would guarantee to visit these elderly friends weekly.
Fourthly – planning to set up social services from a volunteer group with a nurse director.
Social service would mean visiting the elderly people and giving comfort in the line of listening to problems, helping to bath, washing or tidying up their rooms, making sure there is a comfortable bed.
When the time came for our first visit since the “Meals on Wheels” was initiated the results were truly encouraging and gave us great happiness.
I remember the elderly friends praising so highly the daily food. It was as if they couldn’t believe it is true. It is hard to describe our emotions visiting these beautiful people. It was hard to withhold tears when we heard it said ‘before these meals I could afford a piece of meat only every three or four months’. How to describe the joy of the lady who is able now to have a dinner together with her grandson – which never happened for many years?! Life is totally changed for them for better. Also – life is much easier for another lady who was able to enjoy a proper dinner not just a cup of tea as in the past!
How grateful they all were to the good God who answered their prayers and also to all who support us in this beautiful project!
Thank you very much!
Sister Mary Aloysius
I remember the Autumn of 2007. Budimex (Marie Curie) Children’s Hospital in Bucharest Romania. Mirică, the little abandoned boy, was 4 years old.
We took him into our care after he had been successfully operated for hare lip and cleft palate. He seemed to be intelligent and knew how to appeal for TLC. In fact the doctors say that it is this care which helped him recover from a grave illness after another operation this time for reflux. Despite many injections he kept a smile when lifted or carried like a baby. So far he was not able to speak nor walk.
We all were hoping that he may yet surprise us like he did on recovering from that last illness.
The name Mirică keeps popping up-literally and metaphorically!
Having had an operation for reflux his health seemed better and hopes ran high. The intensive care staff did everything possible to make his life happy and, of course, his many “mamas” did likewise but for 2 weeks he seemed to be in a coma. One day, those little eyes opened and step by step improvement came. So well did he become that he was transferred back to his original room which was “home”.
November 6th came – Mirică’s birthday!
He had reached 4 years! Such called for a party and the total staff of several doctors, nurses and carers sang “La multi ani! – Happy birthday!” with great gusto.
Then – the cake – with sparkling candles appeared.
Mirică just looked on wonderingly but knew to be happy as everyone else was!
Today Cristian Mirică is long gone but we are still remembering those touching moments…
More on Cristian Mirică’s sad story: here and here.
Sister Mary Aloysius
Bucharest, 2005
We speak a lot – sometimes too much – about the mothers who abandon their ill children but there are many other mothers who suffer every day with their little ones. Mothers who would be able, without any hesitation, to give up their lives or their health to offer one more hour of life or less pain to their child.
Daily I meet mothers who have lost all hope for their child’s recovery, yet they have the strength to resign themselves to God’s will. Every day I see their tears, their tired faces, their mouth hardly able to speak their sorrow. They need our daily prayers and we must not let them down!
Only God can truly help and console a mother who daily sees her dying child.
In our Lawside Romania Project work during the past years we have met hundreds of mothers. Each has a unique story to tell but all carry that look of worry, pain and anxiety as they walk or sit with their child.
One mother was traumatised by the fact that, while she had a lovely teenage daughter in Budimex (Marie Curie) Hospital Oncology Ward, she had to go to another hospital and visit her 15 year-old son who had been infected with HIV through a blood injection and now developed AIDS. Many mothers here shared her grief and this sharing was such an inspiration for me.
What can you say to console a mother who arrives at Budimex (Marie Curie) Children’s Hospital with a dying child of only 2 days? The baby has a malformed heart and doctors cannot give hope. ‘Why did God allow me to carry that babe for nine months and now this?!’ was all that mother couls say over and over again.
Another mother came to me crying as her son’s health deteriorated: ‘Sister, please say a strong prayer for Nicusor. I just want to feel Jesus is near. May we pray together?’
Iulia’s mother came to me too: ‘Sister, please go to church and pray for my little girl! Please find the priest and ask him to come’. This we did and Iulia’s father, who traveled a long distance from their village and cried out with a kind of anger and grief, was greatly consoled by the prayers of the priest!
At times, the months and even years of child-caring can wear the most loving parent’s patience thin. Lawside Romania Project is there for them. Our Room No. 710 at Budimex (Marie Curie) Children’s Hospital can be a Haven where, at any time, mothers may come for a chat and a break from daily routine. When doctors bring up the news of the possibility their child may never recover, many mothers are grateful that we share their sorrow.
These mothers suffer and cry every single day but they do not lose hope not even for a second. Pictures of these suffering mothers are an image to follow us in our prayers and meditation moments.
Yes! We shoud pray for mothers!
Sister Mary Aloysius
