My Mother and My Vocation

FEW years back, while I was already working, I expressed my plans to enter the seminary to my mother. She was happy and encouraged me to nurture my vocation.

Then, I had to work abroad as a fulfillment of one of my life plans, and my mother understood why I had to go for a while. During my overseas calls with her, I continued to manifest my plan to pursue seminary formation when my employment contract ends. She had no rejections at all.

Among members of my family, it was my mother who easily let go of me for my vocation. I could still remember how happy she was when January of this year, I told her that I would be sent to Manila, not for the Papal Visit, but to join a vocation search-in over a weekend.

She told me she was confident that I would make it with the screening process. After a while, the Priest-In-Charge for Mindanao made a surprise visit in our home and conducted a quick interview with my parents and neighbors. Days had passed, and the results were sent to our residence through a courier. It yielded a positive remark, hence I could start with the Holy Apostles Senior Seminary on the last week of May this year.

My mother gathered the whole family to pray and we recited the Holy Rosary in thanksgiving for the said news! As days gone by, I started to prepare the requirements and took it by heart what Psalm 43:3 said, “Send forth your light and your truth; let them be my guide.”

As I juggled my time between work and preparations for entrance to seminary, a test of my faith happened. One early dawn last month, my father woke me up, informing me about something wrong that was happening to my mother. She was sitting at our living room, crying and praying hard to God to save her life. I noticed the involuntary jerking movements in her right leg. I kept myself composed and prayed with her the common prayers while we were waiting for the ambulance. Right at that moment, I knew my mother was suffering with a health condition and this could become our family’s biggest challenge to face. I immediately remembered my vocation to priesthood!

Anxieties and negative thoughts started to come in my mind, but I was firm in my faith to God, with the hope that I may be able to pass this test. I have reaffirmed right then and there my love for Him and the Church and my dedication to my chosen vocation. As I saw my mother lying in her hospital bed, with the very limited resources that our family had, and with my personal plans to enter the seminary soon, I was quick to remember the line in Psalm 33 that goes, “Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.”

The whole family thought she had a stroke, but this was corrected when her kind Internist, Dr. Maria Theresa Bad-ang divulged to us on her first night at the hospital her diagnosis. After reviewing the CT scan results, my mother had Meningioma parasagittal on the left part of her brain.

She had to undergo left parietal craniotomy for excision of the brain tumor which had grown into a considerable size presumably since last year. That was heartbreaking for the family and for some relatives who were with us at the hospital.

We gathered around to pray, to ask for God’s healing hands upon my mother, and for guidance on decisions we had to make for her condition. We claimed the promise stated in Psalm 145 that “the Lord is gracious and merciful.”

Moments after our prayer, we met the neurosurgeon, Dr. Jose Nicanor Del Rosario III who explained to us the need and risks of the surgery. He also told us how much we needed to prepare. He was so kind and generous that he gave in to our request to give his best during my mother’s surgery despite our limited resources.

Then, Dr. Dorotheo Floresca, Jr., the neurologist of my mother enlightened her about her diagnosis. He gave us hope that she will be well after the surgery. Perhaps, that was a memorable evening for us in the family. We thought it can only happen on movies we watched. We wanted our mother to undergo the surgery, but we also had to consider the marbles in our pocket.

As the eldest among the three children, I assumed the task of tapping some relatives of my parents in order to raise funds that we needed for the MRI procedure and the neurosurgery. As I recited the Full Rosary each day, I prayed hard that we will be given generous people who would understand our situation.

In Chapter 2 of Psalms, I was reminded that “blessed are all who take refuge in the Lord.” My first attempt was to approach Mr. Ruben and Mrs. Cathy Bangayan, who are relatives of my mother by consanguinity. They had no second thoughts of extending financial help to our family, and we truly thank them for that. The same went true to Mr. Eddie and Mrs. Juliet Bangayan, who despite they are miles away from Davao City, assured us of their helping hands. With their help, we were able to pay the down payment for the use of the operating room. As we had reached the credit limit for ward patients, we needed cash for purchase of medicines which were relatively expensive. Thanks to generous relatives and friends who not only visited my mother, but willingly handed cash like Arch. Alex and Connie Dizon, Juner delos Reyes, Joy Jessie and Sharon Jesuro, Delilah Mandafe, Carlos and Virgie Jesuro, Sr. Nanette Handugan, OP, Crisologo Jesuro, Jr., Gesniel Sala-um, Allan and Ester Jesuro, and Arch. Ken Marco Maralit. When we needed a sum to pay the MRI procedure, the Lord sent my mother’s classmates and friends to her and gave her the needed cash. Our thanks also to Ellen Uybuco, An Leng, Sonia Lim, Henry Tan, Ronald and Grace Lafuente, Ellie Lafuente, and Bing Sotto. The day before her surgery, a big amount was required for the use of ICU as post-operation procedure. Upon knowing this, I turned again to prayer for generous people who may be of help to us. Distance did not hinder their willingness to help us financially, hence our gratitude to Libeth delos Reyes, Tuttieh Buen, Engr. Horace and Minda delos Reyes, Danilo Vicente Jesuro and Family, Julius delos Reyes, Cris and Irene Villaflor, Herbert delos Reyes, Glenda Abella, Jude and Edith Bradley, and Herbert Anson and Mary Jane Te.

We are also thankful to our friends who visited our mother while she was recuperating, who brought some gifts and offered earnest prayers from Fr. Hermie Garcia, SSS, Sr. Ma. Isabel Rollorata, OP, Althea Lanticse, Giovanni Irvin Gasco, Paul John Sy and Family, Elenora Jesuro, Lolo, Norma and Naph2x Jabon, Jaime Remonde, Junalyn, Gemmalyn, Sharon Joy and Kids, Jessa, Elaine, Nicole, Honeylet, Gigi, Gemma, Baby, and the generous Staff of Nephrocare Dialysis Center.

Same gratitude is extended to all those who accompanied our family through sincere prayers during and after the surgery like, Holy Apostles Senior Seminary Community, Fr. Tom Avila, DCT, Dominican Fathers Mon Mendez & Norman Quilaquil, Sr. Bonifacia Tecson, OP, Sr. Celia Piala, OP, Sr. Arlene Urquiza, OP, Sr. Lorna Murillo, PM, Lino Jr. and Rosina Bangayan, Reynaldo Garote, Caridad Ang, Nelly Bansag, Rey and Jennifer Tubac, Sachi Elli Tan, and Gina Luis, and those who have expressed support through Mass offerings, FB like gestures and words of encouragement, phone calls, text messages, get-well cards, and sacrifices made for my mother’s speedy recovery. Indeed, gratitude is the memory in our hearts.

With our collective prayers, my mother stayed for few hours only in the ICU with the help of her Anaesthesiologist, Dr. Ana Maria Karla Lei. The nurses were glad to know she had fast recovery and was transferred back to her regular room. I continued to hear mid-day Holy Mass at the hospital chapel praying for her complete recovery, healing, and benign results for her biopsy.

Our hospital bill had ballooned, so I entertained the thought of going to government-funding agencies. I completed all the requirements and took time to personally submit these to different government offices. The Lord had provided us kind and accommodating people when we were at the City Mayor’s Office, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, DSWD-Crisis Intervention Unit, and 1BAP Party List.

Special thanks to Madam Bethzy D., Ma’am Jinky of CMO, the Ladies of CSSDO, Sirs Roldan, Ven, and Perry of PCSO, Ma’am Analyn and her Staff at DSWD-CIU, and Sir Sammy of 1BAP Party List. I knew that the total amount gathered from these agencies will not cover even half of our total hospital bill, but I recognize it to be blessings from the Lord. It helped us reduce the amount needed to be raised for the discharge of my mother from the hospital.

On the eleventh day after my mother’s admission, she was ready to leave the hospital. I prayed even harder on the early morning that the Lord will provide us more understanding people of our situation. Upon arriving at the hospital room of my mother, we were greeted by Capt. Pablo and Mrs. Evanswinda Fernan (sister of my father) and gave us a big sum to help in our settlement of the final bill.

We were truly grateful to them because aside from the cash, they also donated four expensive ampules of neuro-meds through the efforts of their children Giancarlo, Jing-Jing, and Mark Simon. Just before lunch time, we were notified to meet our mother’s relatives, Mr. Ronald and Mrs. Gene Bangayan in their office. Without delay, the generous couple gave us a substantial amount for payment of our bill. We sincerely thank Sir Boboy and Ma’am Gene for their concern and generosity to our family.

Just before the day ends, on that last day of April 2015, with a promissory note I had to undertake with the billing department, my mother finally left the hospital with grateful heart. We thank the Management, Doctors, Staff of different Departments, and Nurses of Davao Medical School Foundation Hospital, Inc. for taking care of our mother Susana, and for the wonderful faith-experience we had during her confinement. Our collective prayers and sacrifices paved the way for my mother’s extended life and her complete healing by the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ, the True Healer and Savior.

Looking back on this life-giving experience I have had with my family, relatives, and friends, I cannot help but recall what Psalm 118 would always tell me, “Give thanks to the Lord for He is good, His love is everlasting.” I am truly grateful to the Lord Jesus Christ, and His holy parents, St. Joseph and the Blessed Virgin Mary, for making all these things possible, and for increasing my Faith in them and to humanity. All is grace. As my mentor and parish priest Fr. Joel Caasi, DCD advised me during my vocation’s trying moment, “let us put our hope and trust in the Lord,” I believed that He really never left me to face my perils alone. The Lord has risen and is truly alive in each one of us!

Three lessons I have learned from my recent breaking point. First, whatever it takes, hang on to your Catholic Faith. Our Lord is a generous and merciful God. His kindness cannot be outdone and He will surely provide what we truly need. Second, because of my great love for my mother, I was never ashamed to approach people to ask for help especially that my mother’s life was at stake. According to St. John, “let us love not only with words and with our lips, but in truth and in deed.” Lastly, do not be afraid to make a life-changing, if not painful, decision for God. After this event, my prayer was that of Psalm Chapter 4, “Lord, let your face shine on us.” While on the cross, Jesus Christ has made a painful decision already to save me. Hence, I will pursue my entrance to the seminary, even if I recognize the need of my mother for my support in all aspects especially as she is recuperating at home. I shall leave everything Lord, just to follow you.

I shall spend more quality time with her, and my family before I leave Davao City for the seminary formation in Manila. I take this chance to invite all young people to love your parents, especially your mother, because there is indeed a special grace from the Lord when you do so. In the end of time, when my eyes will permanently close, I want to be happily united with Jesus Christ with more in my heart, than in my hands. (Leonides Jimmy Jesuro III)