‘Snehadeepam’ is a house located at Alamelu Mangapuram, 5 km from Vellore Christian Medical College in Tamil Nadu. As the name suggests, it is a place where love shines a light of comfort and goodness on human minds. For the past 40 years, the institution has been providing relief to thousands of patients seeking treatment at Vellore Hospital. Fr. Johny Edakkara, the Director of Snehadeepam, shares his life and experiences with Catholic News.
‘Kalam Achan’ is Everything to Snehadeepam
The resemblance to the former President of India Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam has made Fr. Johny as people’s Kalam Achan. Even patients who come to Snehadeepam, including bishops, call him the same. Snehadeepam Palliative Care Center in Vellore was started in 1936 as part of a palliative care organization founded in France. Fr. Johny realized that such a place was more than a necessity when there was no place to stay for the many patients who came to Christian Medical College for treatment. It offers meditation, counseling, seminars, and loving care for those who are struggling with illness.
It can accommodate up to 40 patients at a time, including three general wards. Accommodation, meals, and other nursing services are absolutely free for those who arrive here. A feature of this house is that not even a single charity box is placed here. The help of many well-wishers is behind the smooth running of Snehadeepam.
“Many people extended their love and mercy in the form of donations. By the grace of God, the running of the institution goes well. We take care to deliver whatever food they want to those who come here. It’s a great blessing. God has special care here for everything. God has done everything at its right time,” father said.
Father has been in this ministry for the past 40 years. He had realized that patient care was his special challenge and call years ago. He was supposed to be a parish priest and today he continues to serve in this field for so many years at the age of 69. We all know that patient care is not an easy task. Those who care for them need more courage and self-control than the sick. Commonly, cancer patients come for treatment in Vellore Christian Medical College. When the villain in the form of cancer unexpectedly enters life, the patient and their family members are devastated. This priest has a God-given special grace to empower all of them and bring them back to life as well as prepare the dying in a good way. That is why Snehadeepam becomes more beloved to everyone than their own home.
After reaching Snehadeepam, many people, who may and may not have relatives and homes, say, ‘I just need to stay here and stay here till I get well or die. Behind this decision, there was nothing other than the great love, care, and prayer they receive.
“There have been a lot of people here who are abandoned by their relatives after being sick; especially cancer patients. The prime matter we have to do is that give hope to all of them. The doctors and nurses here are specially trained to care for patients because we see it as more of a ‘ministry’ than a job. Only if it is so, the patient will be cured. Hence, the courage of the mind is most needed here, “shares Fr. Johny.
During the early days of his ministry, he could feel deep grief when patients lay in his arms and died. But, later, four or five people die at the hands of this priest in a day. He says that even it was a very heart aching one, now he sees it as a great blessing that God has prepared for him. It is a virtue that can be done in a lifetime to lift the sick to live and to send the dying back to God with loving services. Tens of thousands have walked back to life through his loving care. However, there were many who did not even have a body to receive after death. Father also takes the initiative to complete the funeral rites according to their religion.
Attitude is Important- Not the Disease
Father says that the possibility of recovery is more like the courage of the minds of people who are sick. Likewise, prayer is also very important. It is the greatest means of calming the mind amidst the worst situation of life.
For many patients who come here, it is like a second home. They are more comfortable with ‘Snehadeepam’. The care, love, and prayer receive from here are so great. “There was an Anglo-Indian woman from Kerala who was a Registrar and came here for treatment when she was diagnosed with cancer. The doctors had written that there were only days left in her life. She had to undergo chemotherapy every 21 days. Each chemo cost around Rs 3 lakh. Even though she had a home and relatives to take care of, she decided to stay at ‘Snehadeepam’. She was really an inspirational one to every patient who came here. She had shared her experiences with her positive vibe of narrations to the patients. She lived here for six and a half years.” Fr. Johny has many experiences like this to speak of.
A Message from Fr. Johny
Fr. Johny has only one thing to say from his 40 years of dealing with sick people. “Follow a healthy lifestyle without hurting nature, because we owe it to ourselves not to get sick. If we have to face any sickness, do not give up hope. Dedication and hope are essential to the care of the sick,” Kalam Achan reveals.
His ministry is availed not only at ‘Snehadeepam’ but also extended at Vellore Medical College. He used to be with the many patients who are on the ventilator and prepare for better death or bring them back to life. If the situations of the house of the sick are bad, they are provided with sustenance, if there is no home, ‘Snehadeepam’ builds a house for them. Those who wish to get a job would provide work facilities. And work conditions are created for the dependents of the sick.
Fr. Johny has been awarded the ‘Best Social Worker Award’ of the National Government of India. The Award from the British Parliament for Palliative Care Service, the Deepika Award, and the Christian Federation of India Award also reached him as the acknowledgment of his selfless service among the sick.
Fr. Johny is a living example of generosity. He has been showing the rays of hope through his acts and care to the thousands of sick people who are coming in front of him. Leading a sacred priestly life he has been a son, brother, and a father to many people for the last 40 years for thousands of people. Living the long 40 years of taking care of the sick is not just an easy matter. Definitely, there should be many untold stories of selfless services and care. May the Almighty strengthen Fr. Johny to wipe out the tears of people through his palliative services and assistance. The Catholic wishes all the very best to Fr. Johny Edakkara to be an angel with the healing hand of God.
Sunisha V.F.