Mom's Gift of Sight

  •   Tue, Mar 08 2011
  •   By Deepa Dumblekar

 Mar 9, 2011

"God could not be everywhere, so He made mothers" – goes a popular saying. And I have always believed it because my mother stood by me at all times, and in her, I saw the goodness of God. 

She taught me about integrity and the values of being resourceful and being organized. In the years that followed, I learnt nobler principles of life from her actions. I saw her give freely of her time and talents to friends and strangers alike, without letting her childhood hardships harden her. Rather, she empathized with the less fortunate and believed in sharing her blessings. She lived her principles rather than preach them.

What makes me proud of my mother though, is her gift of sight, even as she closed her eyes on the world last October. She had signed the Lions’ eye donation form along with others of my family, much before we had any inkling of her departure, although the consent of a deceased person is not necessary for eye donation.

Her consent for eye donation notwithstanding, it was not easy for me to initiate it. Although many days of her struggle in hospital and a few at home had mentally prepared us to the fact that she would not pull through for long, it was very difficult for me to accept that she was not going to rise again. But I knew, that if it had to be done, it had to be done at the earliest – within 6 hours to be precise.

Once I made up my mind, with the death certificate in hand, I requested the Lions International Eye Bank Hospital to do the needful. The team of two – one of them a doctor - arrived and performed the enucleation within 15-20 minutes. In respect, they placed a garland of sandalwood flowers on her person and gave us a couple of certificates conveying their gratitude.

While my dear mother, Padma, left us on October 9, 2010, her eyes will help humanity in line with her belief to be useful to others in whatever way possible. 

She lived with zest for life and in her dying, she silently proved that it is more blessed to give than to receive. 

Now isn’t that a wonderful gift – the gift of sight?

 

Deepa Dumblekar - Archives:
By Deepa Dumblekar
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Comment on this article

  • Stany D'sa, Balehonnur/Dubai

    Tue, Mar 15 2011

    Deepa your Mother is most Blessed woman. May her soul rest in eternal peace. May Almighty God Bless your family abundantly.

  • Max & Jessie Rasquinha, Mangalore/Houson,Tx

    Sat, Mar 12 2011

    Wonderful write-up on the dedication and love towards Mothers linked with Lion's Eye Bank program. Hundreds of thousands of needy people in this world receive free eye tests and free eye glasses from the noble generosity of the Lions International. Truck loads of free eye glasses are donated by so many people to help the deserving. God bless the Lions who dedicate so much for the needy causes of this world.

  • Sandhya, Melbourne/ Mangalore

    Fri, Mar 11 2011

    Nice article.

  • Felcy Menezes, Valencia/Dubai

    Fri, Mar 11 2011

    You are blessed with a great mother Deepa and so is your late mother to be blessed with a great daughter who recognises her mother for her great deeds, actions and various other things and appreciates and respects for what she was.

  • Lavina Mathias, Mangalore

    Thu, Mar 10 2011

    Deepa, your mother is the model for us. Keep it up......

  • Bulsam, Mangalore

    Thu, Mar 10 2011

    A very beautiful & my favorite song “Mother of Mine”
    By Jimmy Osmand says it all …

    Mother of mine you gave to me
    All of my life to do as I please
    I owe everything I have to you
    Mother, sweet mother of mine

    Mother of mine when I was young
    You showed me the right way things should be done
    Without your love, where would I be?
    Mother, sweet mother of mine

    Mother, you gave me happiness
    Much more than words can say
    I pray the Lord that he may bless you
    Every night and every day

    Mother of mine now I am grown
    And I can walk straight all on my own
    I'd like to give you what you gave to me
    Mother, sweet mother of mine (x2)

  • Robert Lewis, Handady/Brahmavar

    Wed, Mar 09 2011

    I will donate my eyes and kidney after my death so please send me address and procedure.

  • Langoolacharya, Belman/USA

    Wed, Mar 09 2011

    People,

    In US donating eyes is part of application for Drivers License...In India too it should be like that so many people come forward for eye donations...excellent article Deepa.. hope your article will shed light on many people's conscience................

    Regards,

    Langoolacharya.

  • Shanthi David, Mangalore / Bangalore

    Wed, Mar 09 2011

    Deepa, your article was indeed inspiring, and I wish a lot more of us emulate her example. Shanthi

  • Alfred Vincent Monis, Bantakal/Kingdom of Bahrain

    Wed, Mar 09 2011

    I want to donate my body after my death, please send me the address and the proceedure to donate my body.

  • Suresh Pai , Udupi / Bahrain

    Wed, Mar 09 2011

    Great honour. One of my sister in laws, who died at the age of 45 years, 2 years back and before her death, she had called the Doctor who was attending her regularly in the Hospital, and informed him to take out her eyes for donating to needy people. So, nowadays these people are the examples for us and the new generation as well, to try to donate something instead of every time eagerly waiting to receive something for their happiness.

  • georgy, mlore

    Wed, Mar 09 2011

    One of the precious GIFT.

  • Maureen D'costa, Mangalore, Sydney

    Tue, Mar 08 2011

    Deepa,
    Everybody should read this article, specially donating eyes or any organs. What I have realised, once you are dead and gone, our body is of no use. Lead a good life, help one an another when living on this earth and donate your eyes and organs either for research or to people who need the most.I have already written my eyes to the eye bank after my death and I have no regrets.
    Good work Padma.
    Maureen

  • Vijay, Bangalore

    Tue, Mar 08 2011

    Thank you Deepa for this reminder article. I have to put this into act.


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