Gratitude for Our Own Voice

Gratitude for Our Own Voice

by Nadia Ramoutar   MMM Communications Coordinator            Ireland        06.10.2024

It was a horrible feeling I had not had since I was a little girl. The painful experience of feeling like I was following razor blades made swallowing even water so unbearable that I had to go to the doctor. Tonsilitis was her verdict. The childhood memories returned and I recalled the painful experience I had not had for many years, thankfully.

It was so difficult to speak that I actually just gave up. I gargled with salt water and drank lemon, ginger and honey tea. I also took the antibiotics the doctor prescribed four times a day. Everything important would just have to wait. I surrendered.

While I was unable to speak and snuggled up in bed surrendering to just how awful tonsilitis feels even as an adult, a thought occurred to me. I am so dependent on my voice that when I am without it I feel so lost.

An unexpected spiritual silent retreat occurred over the weekend as I tried to heal. I was very aware of the privilege of being able to be in a warm and comfortable bed to heal. During my time visiting the missions in Africa, I was aware of how many people slept on concrete floors in their homes with no mattress.

I was also aware that I was able to see my GP easily and afford to pay for the visit and also the medication was ready at the chemist when I arrived because the GP’s admin had emailed them the prescription. I didn’t even have to wait for it to be sent.

As I reflected on how fortunate I was to be sick in a way that was temporary. I didn’t have something that would linger with the care I was getting. But, I thought of the people facing palliative care on concrete floors without any hope for healing or recovery.

My voice soon returned and I felt better within a few days armed with a great appreciation for the importance of my own voice. During my illness, I listened to our new MMM Podcast series. It is so wonderful now that we are able to share the voices of our own MMM Sisters with the world – in their own voices.

I was listening to Sr Mary Doonan describe what it was like when a new illness started to emerge in the missions in the early 1980s – a disease that we came to know as AIDS. What an incredible story to hear from a woman who was devoted to being there for people in their darkest hours. Now, we have come so far in the treatment of AIDS and HIV. What an incredible journey.

If you get some time and you haven’t already listened to our Sister Story Podcasts, please do. Each one is incredible. It is our goal to interview every MMM Sister we can so more will be coming each month. Stay tuned.

 


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