This was written by Dody 39 days after his kidney transplant.
I am 61 years old. I have been hypertensive since age 32. I inherited this from Mama. I had a heart attack in 1991. Papa had problems with his heart.
Dody Naguiat (Central C)
I am a compliant patient and religiously have check-ups and drink my meds. I am fairly fit, an outdoor type, played basketball, tennis, swam, played badminton. I managed my stress.
In 2004, my cardio-internist noted a marker for kidney problems; creatinine was creeping upward, protein traces in my urine. He said it was time to team up with a nephrologist. On the urging of my former cardio-internist, he suggested in September of 2006, to go for a kidney transplant! I was young, quality of life would be better. Go for it, he said. I was energized and full of hope.
Fast forward to December 7, 2006, I vomited at work. I was told to go to UST Emergency ASAP. My nephrologist is the Head of the UST Center for Kidney Disease.
Here my journey begins…
My journey begins
What follows are the affirmations, scriptural anchors that accompanied me on this journey.
1. “Tell Dody, Jesus Loves Him!”
Fr. Herb heard about my confinement at UST. He talked to Josie and gave that message. In my darkest moments, I recalled and replayed this truth. I soaked on this truth when even the desire to pray was absent. Father Ignatius reminded me that the desire to desire to pray is already in itself a grace.
2. “Thy will be done. Father, I put my life in your hands.”
From denial, I surrendered to the Father’s will. It was a Saturday. Tony and Sarah Panajon visited me. They drove all the way from Sta. Rosa to Espana to comfort me. Tony laid hands on me. I was at peace.
I agreed to have an access to my carotid artery to start hemodialysis the following day. Guess what, Sunday morning; Tony was there to make sure I would not back out from the procedure. We had a good laugh.
I had my first experience with hemodialysis that Sunday evening in December of 2007. This went on for eighteen months, three times a week for 4-hour sessions. My final session before my kidney transplant was last August 1, the day Tita Cory passed to the Lord.
3. “unless the grain of wheat falls to the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” (Jn 12:24)
This scripture passage is the leitmotiv of the Way of the Cross which Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger wrote upon the request of John Paul II the week before he died in the year 2005.
“In the Way of the Cross, we see a God who shares in human sufferings, a God who does not remain aloof and distant, but comes into our midst even enduring death on the Cross (cf. Phil 2:8).”
My experience of dialysis for eighteen months, and the inconveniences of a four-hour procedure three times a week brought forth the promise of a better day after being cleansed of toxic waste. I had to die, so I could bear fruit again if only until the next “cleansing”. Happily, I had the means and resources to go through the procedure, until I had my kidney transplant.
I rejoice.
I had plenty of opportunities to share in Christ’s sufferings and His Paschal mystery.
4. “We boast in the hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, we boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance and endurance produces character and character produces hope and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured in our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.” (Rm. 5:2-5)
I pray for the many graces that suffering has brought me. I fervently hope that I can be a better disciple and follower of our Lord according to our way of life and mission. So that in all things God may be glorified.
Everything is grace
5. “Everything is grace. Everything is the direct effect of our Father’s love. Everything is grace because everything is God’s gift. Whatever be the character of life or its unexpected events—to the heart that loves, all is well.” St. Therese of Lisieux
- Dody Naguiat
September 10, 2009, 39th Day post Kidney Transplant
RELATED LINK: DODY NAGUIAT, 1947-2009
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Its 1:00 pm. I am in the office, eating my lunch, a tuna sandwich i had my driver buy from a nearby Oliver’s. An hour ago, i just spoke to Tess Pelejo, a single sister from SDF. She was consulting me about Dody’s estate tax return which is due in 6 days, Apr.1. And here i find myself going over our LNP website, reading all the testimonies and just allowing the Lord, through all you brothers and sisters, to inspire me ! And to read Dody’s sharing again brings back so many happy memories. I was his DGL in the CLP he and Josie took many moons ago. I remember our 1-2-1 at the Polo Club where i told him , we should trade places. He should be my leader and i his member. Dody was my brother’s classmate and i knew him to be a former Jesuit scholastic. Soon, we were co-members in the same MWG, then brother Coordinators serving and sharing together. What a joy ! What a privilege !
Why am i even writing this ? I guess because i am overwhelmed by the feeling of love and being loved…by God and by all of you, my LNP brethren. Overwhelmed by gratitude ! Indeed, everything is GRACE…a GIFT from God…even suffering, even separation from a loved one. It gives us the opportunity to completely trust God and grow in intimacy with Him !
Peace and blessings to all…always !!!
Warmly,
Spanky Meer
Kuya Dody touched my soul with such deep gentleness, albeit for such a short short while. He led our Covenant Retreat two years ago.
We are all much blessed to have met him in this journey.
“In some mysterious way, we are glued together.” –Dody Naguiat
Tito Dody led our Covenant Retreat just a few years ago. He is a sincere, humble, and very gifted retreat master. I was serving then as Executive Director of the Institute for Pastoral Development, so I told him that we need him to give the Ignatian Exercise, which he gamely said yes. Well this sadly never happened due to his sickness.
I and those who went on that journey with him to discern to make public the covenant of Ligaya will definitely miss him. Such a rare gift he was to us. I pray that in my life, I can echo the words he made his own. “Everything is grace because everything is God’s gift.” Tito Dody you are God’s gift to us whom you have served may we in turn be gifts to others.