In November 2016, the Ranong public hospital referred to us a patient, Pyae Sone who was very sick and had no family. When he was discharged from the hospital we went and found him at the little corner of the fish factory. He just dwelt within a mosquito net. It was a place where they were hauling fish day and night. The workers gave him some food.
He went away from his wife and two children when he found out that he got HIV infection. He felt the guilt and anger with himself that he needed to keep the distance between himself and his family. He also felt that the wife did not want him anymore. The wife and their kids went to the north of Thailand.
He was a former soldier in Myanmar. He left Myanmar with the reason that there were a lot of injustices and violations of human rights in the government system. He’s been away from Myanmar for more than 20 years. He lost contact with his own siblings and families in Myanmar.
He lost everything and became homeless. He was infected with TB and HIV. We assisted him to the hospital and found a decent room for him to rent where he could rest well and recover. We assisted with things he needed like basic needs, food and accommodation.
We assisted him to get legal document and health card. He gained strength so he can work again with some physical work. He accompanied Eddie, one of our staff, to do some manual work at the Marist Centre. He gets on well with his neighbours. He is an active member of the Self-Help group. There were times that he helped taking care some of patients who were very sick and dying in the hospital.
This year, as he was renewing his documents and aiming to get a proper job, he was suddenly hospitalized with complications in the nervous system. He became paralyzed and become very weak.
He has been separated from his own family. He recognized his own weaknesses. He was able to contact the wife and asked for forgiveness and prayer. It is impossible for him now to be with his wife and children. It is also impossible for him to go back to Myanmar.
He is living alone, and he might die alone.
The Health Team is looking after him with daily support and care for him as he courageously faces death. He never misses to say ‘thank you’ every single day the team whom he feels that he is consoled and supported in his journey in life.
Recently he died and the Health Team took him to the local monastery for some prayers and burial. We were the only ones present along with a monastery staff member to burn the casket. We were all sad and yet filled with an awareness of being the compassion of God for the most abandoned and forgotten.
A JOURNEY REMEMBERED 