By Anthony Swamy, SVD

Mysore, May 23, 2020: Pope Francis has honored nurses and midwives, calling them “guardians of life” and “saints next door.”

Here is the story of such a saint next door.

“I never knew the nursing job is so holy until I came to work for the Covid-19 patients,” says Pasca Mary, a nurse at Columbia Asia Hospital, Mysore, Karnataka.

She talked of her difficulties, of leaving her family, but at the same time the joy of serving her patients.

Mary was at home on March 24 evening when the Indian government announced a nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

She wanted to return to work on 25, but the government announced the lockdown until May 15.

May, who was in charge of the natal ward in the hospital, thought that she was saved from the pandemic, but was disappointed when asked to report for work.

Her family discouraged her, and even asked her to resign from her job.

Mary was confused. She closed her eyes and prayed to God for guidance.

“It was God’s grace that led me to discern, to take the risk, and to travel 80 km to report for duty,” she later told me.

“It was not only a blessing, but God was with me all throughout. If it’s not for God, I would have not taken the risk,” she said.

Mary claimed she was deeply touched by the words of Jesus who said: “I have come to serve not to be served.”

“One question was haunting me always. If not now, then when?”

That question made her decision to leave her family and work for the community that was haunted by the disease.

It was painful for her to leave her children, so she set off early in the morning before they woke up.

On the first day in the hospital, Mary was anxious and worried, but kept remembering the pledge that she made when she finished her studies.

Many of her colleagues did not report for work, others resigned from their job as many patients with symptoms of Covid-19 were admitted.

Mary found them afraid and helpless. Then she began to talk to them. When she heard their pain, she completely forgot her worries. She did her best to take care of them.

The patients cried. Some said that they were going to die. But Mary made them all feel at home with her.

“Nurses are like mothers,” she said. “We need to treat our patients with motherly care.”

The “motherly care” makes patients think that nurses and doctors are like “God on earth,” she said

“Thus, we become mothers 24/7 — mother to our children at home and mother to our patients in the hospital,” she added.

There were times that she would long to be with her children at home, but her commitment to nursing helped her endure the sacrifice.

Working with Covid-19 patients made her realize the “greatness and holiness” of the nursing profession.

She said that although it is difficult to leave the family and to take risks to work with the patients, “the joy is greater.”

Source: .rvasia.org