Oasis of Hope

By Sr Soniya K Chacko DC

“God hears the cry of the poor”. Three decades ago, HIV/AIDS was a dreadful disease. All those affected by AIDS were abandoned by their own family; they experienced a lot of rejection from society, more than what people suffered during Covid 19. People who were affected and infected by HIV/AIDS were at the dark door of death emotionally and physically. The silent cry of those affected by it was unheard by friends and family. In solitude, they saw no hope in life. No one could explain the turmoil they were undergoing. When no one wanted, no one cared, there came a few Angels of Hope to give them shelter and serve them. Here is a story of Vincentians fathers (VC) and sisters (DC) who became an oasis of Hope and gave meaning to the life of the victims of the dreaded disease.

When one door closes, another opens

St. Vincent’s Home for the AIDS Patients was started in 1996 by Rev. Fr. George Panakal VC. It is a beautiful service carried out by them at Muringoor, Kerala. The Daughters of Charity of Vincent de Paul (DC) collaborate with the VC fathers to serve those infected with HIV for the last 30 years. They have served more than three thousand patients; hundreds had peaceful death.

At the beginning, there were 25 patients, both men and women, and they remained in a small thatched house. At present, there are 34 patients, both men and women. At one time, we had 107 patients along with their children. Some of the children were brought from the hospitals just after their birth. We also have the facility for the children’s education. The accommodation, food, medicine, travel, and spiritual needs are met by the fathers, and they are always at hand. Fr Shijo Nettiyankal VC, the present in-charge of the home, says, “We participate in the mission of Christ and fulfil our vocation by this service”.

Many patients from different parts of Kerala and outside come here. There are old and young men and women and their kids. It is difficult for the kids to get admission in the schools of Kerala since their parents have AIDS. Some of the inmates might have lived a wayward life, family and friends might have rejected them, but they have sisters and other inmates by their side in prayer – a large spiritual family – at the time of their death here.

A True Testimony of Hope

Sr Jaya Mary DC, who had served there for seven years from 1996, said: “It was one of the most beautiful services I ever did. Now I am serving in Fiji. If Superiors ask me to serve again the patients, I love to come back. When I was asked to serve the patients, the disease was so dreadful and there was no medicine at that time. Superiors were afraid to send me in the beginning since I was very young.  During the initial years, there were more men. They had TB and AIDS, since they did not have immunity. Within six years, almost 600 patients had died there. I came face-to-face with death every day, still I was not afraid.”

Most of them got the disease through their wayward life. Nobody helped them when they contacted this disease. Some used to reach the institution thinking of committing suicide. Sister Jaya added: “Once, a handsome young man, in his early twenties, came to the house; after his second retreat, he came to me and said: look at my bag, I have two covers in it. One contains Rs. 2,000; until the money gets over, I will attend the retreat; the second cover contains a packet of poison. I have nothing else, and nobody wants me.”

After his third retreat, he went to Sr Jaya Mary in tears and said, “Sister, you keep this with you, I don’t want to commit suicide. I want to live with Christ and for Christ as many days as possible”. Usually, people affected by AIDS/HIV become weaker day by day, but he was becoming healthier and more energetic. One day, I told him to repeat the HIV test. He was not willing to do it; he showed his positive test report. However, the next day the test was done, and the report was negative. Within seconds, life changed; he could not control his tears.

At times, sisters were their nurses, other times they were their councillors and even helpers. Many people used to open up their life to the sisters, and we used to listen to them and help them a lot.

St Vincent used to say, “The poor will evangelise you”. Many lives touched me personally. One day, a man came; he had suicidal tendencies. But, after his confession, he became calm and had one rosary in one hand and the Bible in the other hand; he was totally transformed.  A few days later, when he was at death bed, he waved his hands at the sisters and said ‘Tata! See you in heaven!’

Many women got the disease due to the infidelity of their husbands. They used to be bitter and angry toward their husbands, but through the constant effort of the sisters, all of them died after forgiving them. When they were able to forgive those who transmitted the disease, many of them could lead a peaceful life.

Sr Sheeba DC said, "There were more than 60 people. It was the most beautiful service I ever did. I feel lots of fulfilment in my vocation".

Sr Mary Vijili DC said she had served there for a few years. It was a great pleasure to do this service; at the same time, it was challenging. She could provide them formal schooling by teaching the kids of the affected patients. It was hard to see parents dying in front of the children, and they were left alone with us. “I always remember this service,” she added.

Better health and more life span

Till 2003, we were only taking care of them and preparing them for a peaceful death. There were 832 deaths in our home till then. Treatment for the patients started from 2003 onwards. We started regular check-ups and Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) to increase their immunity. So, the death rate began declining. Sr Rose Panathara DC says, "I have 10 years of experience. I could be a mother to the motherless, and a sister to many. In most cases, the inmates had no contact with family.  Due to the efforts of the sisters, now many are in touch with their families. Some of them go home for a few days. So mental stress is much less now.

Sr Maria Rani DC, who is the superior of the house, says ART medicine gives more life expectancy. Every 24 hours, they should have it. We admit only women. In the last 10 months, 50 have died. The inmates are taken to the medical college every month, and the hospital gives counselling too. They are aware of the seriousness of their disease. Their privacy is maintained. 

A Day at St Vincent’s Home

The day begins with morning prayer (Sapra), Holy Eucharistic celebration, Adoration and personal prayer. They do some work like taking care of animals, rosary-making, preparing rooms, writing postal addresses, making covers, gardening, etc. They watch TV. We also give them classes on faith and morals. They are happy and united as one family. We also arrange for them some entertainment programmes, such as taking them to movies.

In recent years, four girls who grew up in this house got married and settled well.

“Sister, are you not afraid?” Many ask the sisters who serve them, and the sisters reply, “We are not afraid because every morning we take a medicine, that is the Holy Eucharist. It is the Eucharist that gives strength, courage and health to us.”

Sometimes, patients become wild; they have attacked the sisters. They have frustrations, pains and some are psychiatric. Their anger and frustrations are poured on the sisters. “God who called us gives strength to be courageous during those occasions,” says Sr Amala, who has been here for nine years.  

Sr Mary DC, a pioneer in service, recalls: “At the beginning, people were afraid of AIDS patients. The biggest problem was their burial. We were not allowed to bury them in the common cemetery. Once, we had to bring back the body because the person belonged to a different state. The second problem was the treatment in the hospitals. As soon as we said that he/she was an AIDS patient, doctors were not willing to treat them. Once we had to face a lot of problems in a delivery case; we had to shuttle between Trissur and Trivandrum, and then to Kottayam Medical College, where the patient was accepted with much difficulty.”

Now things have changed. Many are coming forward to serve them. One Congregation used to send their brothers to serve these patients. We are happy to be with them and serve them because we see the face of Christ in them. The patients say, God sends angels disguised in human form: Angels of Hope, and we are with them. There is a lot of hope in Vincent’s Home; they stand at the shore of death smiling in hope.

(The writer belongs to the Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul)