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The Last
three days of earthly journey of our beloved mum Mrs. Brugeen Fernando.
April 10, 2010On the evening, 10th
of April, I was informed by my brother Fr. Jero that mother was admitted in the hospital for a urinary and chest infection.
I took it very lightly and I called my brother Yohan the next day for further details. He too said
that she was ok. I wanted to speak to the consultant taking care of my mum, as we had the Provincial Chapter
in Malta all the other superiors were arriving and on the 17th and 18th of April we also had the papal
visit to Malta and I was quite busy with my work. If mother’s condition was ok, I was planning to
go home after a week, so I spoke to the doctor and he revealed that mum had septicemia which is serious and he advised me
if I would like to see her I better come home immediately. My superiors were very kind enough and I got
my ticket in three hours’ time, and I was at the airport soon and I arrived in Chennai on the 11th at 8:30
am.
April 11, 2010 - Divine Mercy SundayMy brother Deno and I traveled from Chennai to tuty
by the same flight and we reached the hospital at 2:30 p.m. The condition of my mother was really bad and I thought she will
pass away at any moment, so I kissed her and said “ma naan sister vanthirukiren” and immediately she regained
her consciousness and looked at me and all the children were around her, everyone were shocked! We prayed
together the divine mercy rosary together and she prayed with us too. We sang her favorite hymn to the
sacred heart “yesuvin madura thiru iruthayamee”. She was very pleased and she sang with us.
It was indeed a moving scene. The Hindu doctors were astonished at the sudden change in mum, as she regained her consciousness
completely, though she was on mechanical ventilator, as her oxygen level was low. The doctor himself said
that it was only by god’s grace that this change had happened, which he had never seen in his life. Praise
the lord for his infinite goodness and mercy towards us.
After the prayer, each one of us presented ourselves to
mum and kissed her. She nodded and she recognized each one of us. I was lucky to be
at my mother's side on Sunday the 11th of April. All my brothers, sisters and their families were around her. She regained consciousness
and was stable for two days. I knew my mother will not make it. My family had great
hopes that she will come out of the situation. The consultant also had great
hopes that mum might recover. I was very sure she will not make it, so I stayed with her day and night.
I gave her nursing care and change her and keep her comfortable for the night, and I was in and out during the night.
April
12, 2010 – MondayOn Monday the 12th of April it was the b’day of my brother Hamilton and we both went in and he asked
her blessing and she lifted her hand and blessed him. Then he asked “ma, can I bring you a piece
of cake?” She smiled and said “vendam.”These two days were a great consolation to each one of us.
All my brothers and sisters and their families went home that evening, but late in the evening I was not happy with
the condition of mum, as I saw her changing and becoming more buffed up and slightly confused. I and my
brother priest and Bino my nephew waited for the consultant to hear about my mum’s condition. We met him at
1:00
am on the 13th April. He did not give a satisfactory response.
April 13, 2010 – Tuesday
As I was up during the night, I saw her changing rapidly. Immediately, I called
for Fr. Jero and others and I decided that we
take her back home and I informed my family. We informed her that we are taking her back home, and she
was very happy. My brother priest came and anointed. She was once again surrounded by
her children and she was given the holy communion, which she received without any difficulty.
She was fully conscious of what was happening to her. Her ventilator
was removed at 11:40 am. She struggled a bit and was on Ambu bag support until she reached the ambulance.
Immediately, all the accessories were connected like oxygen, drips, etc. We left
the hospital at about 11:45 am with all the access to her treatments of drip, oxygen, etc. During her journey
towards home, we were supporting her by our prayers. At a certain point, she had cardiac arrest, and immediately
we revived her. Since then, she became unconscious but she was responding to the commands and I knew that
she was following. We reached home by 1:45 pm.
Mum was laid
on her bed and all the drips were connected, and she was surrounded by all family members. It was very
solemn. My mother was carried to her bedroom amidst prayers and songs.
We fixed her on her bed and all the medical needs were attended as per my
Dr. Uncle’s
order. We were able to continue the drips and oxygen and other injections. I was very grateful to God that
I could render my dear mum my nursing services till the end. She showed by her expression that she knew
she was at home. It was a holistic service rendered to her by me and all my brothers and sisters and nephews
and nieces and in-laws, all did their little bit to make her comfortable.
Fr. Jero continued to guide us by his prayers and the last prayer for the dying was read by Hamilton anna,
and at the end the great grandson (Leo anna’s elder son Jerino’s child) was brought to her and we took her hand
and blessed the baby. She gave a big smile. It was about 3:15 pm. We
once again prayed together the rosary of the Divine Mercy to whom mum had great devotion and she peacefully slept in the lord
at 3:40 pm. The whole group joined in prayer of thanksgiving for the Virtuous Life of our dear mother which
was lead by Fr.Jero by reciting the Prayer of Magnificat.
Cause of death:Septicemia, UTI, CAD, Left ventricular failure, DM, Hyponatremia.
When I had left for the mission I had made a pact with the Good Lord that I must
have the grace of preparing my mother to meet her divine Master and to assist her at her last moment of her life. The Lord
had been faithful in keeping His promise and giving me the Grace. I am indebted to him all my lifetime for such great blessing
he has showered on me.
At this point,
the superior from our community from tuty had come with another sister. Myself, Jessy, Suberna, my cousin
Leena and my niece Dina helped her to be laid out in an off - white saree with golden border.
It is providence of God that she died on the 13th one of the days of
our blessed mother our lady of Fatima’s apparition to whom she had great devotion which she had inculcated in us her
children.
Thirteen also reminds of her thirteen selvangal
as she used to refer to us her children. On the 14th was her encounter with her Divine Creator
where she was accompanied by all her 14 children from earth and in heaven. (We had lost our little brother
Joseph still born.)
Mum had a great devotion to our Lady of Fatima
and to the Divine Mercy, and I am quite certain that she saw them two days before, for she made a gesture of getting into
the arms of someone who loved her dearly two days before her death.
The loss of my dear Mum is inexplicable and inconsolable to each one of us. We thank
the Good Lord for having given us such a virtuous and holy mother.
Mum’s
Last Testament:After the funeral ceremony in the evening, we the children got together
and we read her testament, which was written in her personal diary where she also had written her life history up to the year
1994 including the weddings and birth and life settlement of each of her children. It was indeed very moving.
She, who had done only till the 8th standard, had achieved such clear vision about her life here and after.
She had also written her commands to her children concerning her financial
status and how to deal with it without having dispute among the children. She requested that we all must
be united as before.
She had also planned her funeral expenses
and had put aside some amount of money and had assigned to my elder brother the formalities, and all the details were given
as to how to go about the procedure after her death. We were all stunned by such a pre-planned programme
of my dear mum.
Understanding the situation of her thirteen children, though she felt the pain of not being cared for
by her children in patnam, it was her decision to stay at home though all my brothers wanted to keep her with them in their
respective cities where they were working. She had accepted her condition as it comes from the
hand of God and his holy will. She resigned to live the rest of her life in prayer and in total surrender
to God’s will.
[2Timothy 4:7]I
have fought a good fight. I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. The crown
of justice is waiting for you.
Go forth, Oh faithful Christian soul.
Isaiah 62:3 Thou shall be a Crown of Glory in the hand of the LORD, and a Royal Diadem in the hand of thy God.” My brother priest summarized my
mother’s life reflecting from the Word of God
Proverbs Chapter 31:10-31 10. A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.
11. Her
husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.
12. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her
life.
13. She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.
14. She is like the merchant ships, bringing her
food from afar.
15. She gets up while
it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls.
16. She considers a field and
buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17. She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her
tasks.
18. She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night.
19. In her hand she holds
the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20. She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.
21. When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22. She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23. Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
24. She makes
linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25. She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
26. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27. She
watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28. Her children arise and call her
blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:
29. “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.”
30. Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31. Give her the reward
she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate. My lips are filled
with gratitude to God for having given us such holy, humble and devoted mother. We are indeed blessed to
be born of her womb and we sing our Magnificat by praying:
Psalm 103
“Bless the Lord oh my soul
and all that is within me bless His Holy Name. Bless the Lord oh my soul and never forget all His Blessings.”
Yes, our dear mother is a blessing to her children and family and all those whom she
comes in contact. May she sing the praise of God for all eternity. Amen. Alleluia. BLESSED
BE GOD! THANK YOU MY GOD AND GLORY BE TO GOD FOR THE LIFE AND DEATH OF OUR DEAR MOTHER MRS. BRUGEEN FERNANDO.
Forwarded by Rev. Sr. Jubila Kattar
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