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IN ALL A LESSON Elissa has passed away, at twelve years of age, at her span of life...
I had the feeling to write about the experience I had during the last seven
months of life of my daughter and the LESSONS obtained of it. In November 2001 my daughter went through a test for the Colegio
Militar de Salvador (Military College of Salvador/Brazil), which she
approved. She begun having headaches, in the nape of the neck; we thought it
would be due to the great mental effort in her studies. But on the 19th
of November my wife called me by phone to my work, informing that the child
was going to get mad of pain, and that even water would her have to vomit. I met with both at the The chemotherapy and radiotherapy would be important for the complete
destruction of the cancer cells, not visible, by bare sight, during surgery.
That kind of cancer (Medulo Blastoma of Cerebellum) responds quite well to
treatment. However, the cells seen, through the microscope, had nucleus with
odd forms... After five months of chemotherapy, and already having started the
radiotherapy, in April 2002 the symptoms returned; new resonance; another
surgery. Then, through the inmunohistochemic survey, made in CICAP
(Inmunohistochemic, Citopathologic and Anatomic Pathology Centre) in the
state of Sao Paulo/Brazil it was stated: DEMOPLASTIC MEDULOBLASTOMA of
cerebellum with RABDOID cells. In the whole world, up today, there are only three registered cases of
Demoplastic Meduloblastoma: http://bvs.sld.cu/revistas/onc/vol11_2_95/onc05295.htm - and Meduloblastoma with rabdoide cells there is
only one case registered: http://www.conganat.org/icongreso/comunic/com063/titulo.htm - However, there is no registration of any tumour
with both of those characteristics together. Demoplastic tumours, standing by
their own, are extremely aggressive and of almost impossible treatment;
regarding the Rabdoidic cells, although seldom, are more common in happening
in the Wilms Tumour (a kind of cancer, which happens in the kidneys), but,
there is just no known treatment for that kind of cell. The rabdoid tumour is considered to be the mayor challenge of Oncology,
since it does not respond to any kind of treatment, and it has the power of
growth of embryonic cells (geometric progression: to the square). Due to backsliding, my daughter was operated the second time in April.
Immediately one proceeded with radiotherapy. But, one month later appeared a
third tumour (they came back every time because, in spite to being withdrawn
by surgery, evidenced fact by post-surgical tomography, the chemotherapy
associated with radiotherapy did not achieve to break the residual rabdoide
cells), not existing indication of another surgery, since it would not help
(it would only increase the suffering), she was, however, put under surgery
for a third time in order to install a peritoneal derivation valve to bring
relieve to the headache, which associated wit analgesics would lessen her
suffering, estimating 30 days of life, but she lived only 20 more days. Those
were 20 days of suffering, because even up to the installation of the valve
she had to wait the necessary level of plackets in the blood, a transfusion
of these being necessary, it was only achieved after controlling the high
fever due to the edema in the brain; the fever was controlled only the fifth
day, receiving immediately a plackets transfusion, which are responsible for
the clogging of the blood, she then was operated On the tenth day the vital signs were week, and one had to do a fourth
surgery to extract a vein in the arm (the ideal would be a catheter installed
directly in the vein of access to the heart, but this would risk an inner
haemorrhage due to the lowering of plackets; neither could she get general
anaesthesia), without being able to get general anaesthesia, not even a
sedative to sleep, local anaesthesia was applied, having to perform all the
surgical procedure with the girl awake. But, to our surprise, she returned
smiling; she told us that, while entering in the Surgical Centre she saw the
Lord Jesus, she did not she the face, but she knew that it was Jesus, He was
with white and glittering clothes, that He led the stretcher in a cloud and
fondled her face. We came to know that this was not the first time, neither the last of
her having visions of Jesus coming to comfort her in the moments of her
suffering. Then we realised that there was little time left... I have restricted myself to talk in a technical manner, but if you put
yourself in my place and could see your daughter coming in and getting out of
hospital during seven months, even having to use morphine for the pain;
sometimes, in the interval of 3 hours, to vomit 14 times, and having cramps
through the whole body due to the low potassium and other electrolyte, having
headaches due to the pressing of the tumour directly on the nervous centre of
the body: the brain; and if you think that is all... I have to tear my heart
in order to write. In all, we were greatly impressed by the peace and joy she had. During
the last week she said to God: "Lord, I am not afraid, I know that if I
die, I shall be with Jesus!". And she died at 09:15 hours of June 11th
2002 (Tuesday). Elissa parted to be with the Lord, whom she loved in all her life. Her
mother always told her that already in her womb she consecrated her, and as
soon as she gave birth to her she reiterated the votes. She grew up
developing such a fondness, that it was impossible not to be captivated by
her joy. She used to say that when we talk and express Christ, we gain little
star in our crown. I do not know where she got that ideas from, but, even
after her departure, wherever this my report shall sencibilize people by the
testimony of life of my daughter, may there many little stars be credited to
his crown... The pain during the last 48 hours escapes the comprehension of human
reasoning. The tumour entered in a phase of extreme violence; with its
growth, in the part of the brain with more force, one part of the body would
loose its function (many of her organs became disabled). I stayed three days
and three nights holding her little hand, talking to her that in short her
suffering would come to an end... Initially she lost control of the left side arm and leg, followed by
the co-ordination of the left eye, so that she would see everything twofold,
leaving her foolish; she would no more open the mouth... She had stomach
haemorrhage; she went loosing the kidneys, intestines; and at last the
lungs... The last night was terrible. We were I and my wife on her side all the
time, were we witnessed three respiratory halts during dawn, being reanimated
by the medical staff. A respiratory halt is something that causes a severe shock wen you see
it (I thought I was having a collapse because I myself was breathing wit
difficulty as I saw my little one suffering so much, my wife was shouting:
Lord Jesus, have mercy): among other reaction, which impresses most are the
strong spasms and convulsions; I cannot go on... On the last respiratory halt I asked my wife not to implore anymore
for a miracle (there are moments in which we have to be quite clear about the
divine intentions) and I cried to God aloud, in front of all who were there;
I asked Him that He should not let part the girl in that manner because it
was most painful. She went into coma and the respiration went dropping down,
reaching 11% of oxygenation, and the day was beginning. The oncologist of the girl arrived early and started to monitor her
last moments. Dr. Dolores was impressed that the heart continued beating
(normally the heart stops at 50% of oxygenation). Then she, the physician,
asked about the brothers of the girl (my two sons – Valter Neto who will be 17
years of age; Felipe: he is 15 years old), and I answered that my father,
their grandfather, went to fetch them at school. As the boys arrived they kissed her, saying: "Oh, little sister
of mine, I love you!", it was so spontaneous... I remembered when the
girl entered in coma one of the physicians prevented us that she was
maintaining conscience, so that we should be careful talking near her. In
fact, at hearing the voice of her brothers, tears came out of the eyes of
Elissa. The apparatus was not able to register the oxygenation anymore; and
at auscultating the physician exclaimed: "Something is bothering this
girl!", since the heart continued beating, lowering and rising the
rhythm. As by a divine inspiration, I approached her, having my wife at my
side; and, holding the little and frigid hand of the girl, I said:
"Elissa, my daughter!". I cannot explain, but she did come out of
coma, and looked at me. I continued: "My little one, I never lied to
you, and this is the last time I speak to you: I shall look after your
mother, loving and respecting her, I shall treat her with dignity all days of
my life; please excuse me for any fault; I shall live in a way, that with the
grace of God, we shall meet again in the millennium. Leave in peace, my
daughter; on burying you, I shall be burying an old father and husband as
well, I shall be a new father for your brothers and a new husband to your
mother. Go now, my little daughter, go into the arms of Jesus, since He is
waiting for you with open arms to receive you". The girl closed her eyes and expired... The physician put the
stethoscope on her chest and registered the time (09:15 hours). Dear brothers, I learned that the best present a father can give to
his children is to love the mother of them, and vice versa. I could also see that it was not necessary that certain parts of my
daughter’s body would be with problems, it was just that the brain would stop
sending messages to these parts, being left useless. With it, I realised that
we need to learn to use the anointing, mainly in the meetings of the Church. Regarding the sanguineous problems, I saw that we are in a continuous
war; and any lowering (leukocytes, hemathies or plackets, from among many
components) we are subject of many illnesses. In the same way we need to be
praying and watching always so that we may not have spiritual losses, many
times even unreversible. When the body of my daughter was lowered into the sepulture, I told
the people present: "The name Elissa means joy, and up to the end she
said to be happy. And even in sight of dead, she was thinking in the
well-being of those she loved so much, but whom she would have to leave
behind. Today people, because of watching novels so much, they are
separating, and they call that incompatibility of temperament. I am burying somebody so young, but so full of maturesness, who in his
final moments showed to be in fact an overcomer. I have no insurrection against God, in spite of having nursed strong
hopes regarding the cure of Elissa. If I believed in God before, today I
believe much more, even if my daughter is dead; if I loved Him, now I love
Him much more. Because all that time He was pretty near to my daughter. And
now she will be close to Him forever"... Brethren, in November 2001, after the first surgery, when I became to
know that my daughter had cancer, seeing her there all over with tubes in the
UTI (Intensive Therapy Unit), weeping I approached God; closed my eyes and
bending my arms, as if I were carrying her, I put her on the altar and said:
"She is much more your daughter than mine; Lord, if it is Your will to
take her with You, I lift my hand of all fondness towards her; I only ask You
to give me the strength to bear the nostalgia and the lack of her". God accepted my offer; and in spite of the many opinions I was
confronted with in these last months, I have the assurance that that was His
will. My daughter finished the race, and I and my house need to go on, and
finish our race too. More convinced that in us was started a good work, and
he who started it is powerful to fulfil it, leading us at all moments... In the great loss I suffered – I was meditating on these two verses of
the Bible: "Then Zipporah took a
sharp stone, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast it at his feet,
and said, Surely a bloody husband art thou to me." (Exodus 4:25); and: "And it came to pass on the third day, when they were sore [due to the
circumcision]..." (Genesis
34:25) – Surely the sore of the cut is very big, but we have to realise that
on establishment of this cut, it follows: "I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect" (Genesis 17:1)... It is difficult to measure the pain that now bears in my bosom; on the
other hand, it is also not difficult to realise the fruit it has generated in
me. Today I see life under a new aspect. Recently, I looked in the eyes of my
wife, and I remembered how the girl, hugging her, used to say: "I love
you so much, mom!", and she kissed her... I was touched by such a simple
love and peace. I have learned, though with some moderation, to make manifest
my feelings of fondness to the people who surround me; I think that is what
God expects from us, that we may be genuine in expressing His person in us... During all that time Elissa never murmured of the sufferings; in everything
she would find reasons to express the joy that she had of living; having
loved Jesus, she loved Him until the end! Amen! Erivalter Moreno de Moura - June 2002 eusoueri@gmail.com [ Email and Facebook ] Site of Elissa: http://eusoueri.ucoz.com.br/elissa.htm Thanks for the prayers. God is sovereign! One message over the
peace I realised in the girl: " Something I learned with Elissa",
and two Photos of her (one prior to the cancer, and the other taken on new
year, where she was hospitalised to take chemotherapy). ______________________________ Translated by
ERNESTO RÜDE F. |
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