The Day I Met Her

 By Monliza Esteban

It was one fine Friday morning on the 21st of August when a young Hindu couple arrived at the parish’s TB clinic with their tiny baby. When their turn came to meet the doctor, I was curious to see the baby’s situation so I went inside the doctor’s room. I had never seen such a disease as that. Her body, including her head, was covered with a skin infection. The cloth that was used to wrap her was even stuck to her bottom. Her eyes were affected as well. I couldn’t imagine how hard it must be for a baby like her having all the pain inside and outside. She was crying the whole time the doctor examined her. As I gazed on her parents’ worry eyes, I felt more compassion to this tiny God’s gift to them. I assumed it is their first child. At the end of the day I still couldn’t stop thinking about that child. 

Perhaps that was the scenario when the lepers were asking Jesus to heal them. They must have been in pain, crying for help like her. And perhaps the only free medication for them is to turn to Jesus with faith.  

She was admitted that day because the doctor discovered that she had a pulmonary problem. The parents were also told to bring their baby to the clinic every other Friday for medication apart from her skin problem. And so our journey begins. 

I started to be a friend to her and the mother after that first meeting. They belong to a tribal group whose language I do not speak or understand, but with few words I was able to build a rapport with them. On the second Friday there was an improvement with our little patient and she was a little bit friendly. I offered her toffee but she was still quite shy to take it from my hand. I continue to inquire about her situation and if she was getting better with the medicine the doctor prescribed. The mother showed me her daughter’s body where the soft baby skin was returning to normal. As they continue to come for her medication, I saw the changes on her skin. Every time they come, her skin gets better and better. Like the leper’s faith I also believed that this tiny baby fought with her strong faith and will to recover from that disease. 

 Sometimes it is hard to say and judge the kind of society we have. I sometimes also wonder about this group of people who were deprived from health privileges not because they cannot work in order to provide good health for their children or for themselves, but because of the kind of society they are in. This experience had challenged me again and again to be more compassionate with the little ones - the destitute in the society whoever they are. I am just thankful that we have generous people around who continue to help these people. Now, I am very happy to see finally this little tiny one on her fifth Friday fully recovered from her skin problem and praying that she will also recover from her other ailment in time. I will always remember the day I met her, the day I met Gangga.