Easter 2017, Mongolia  Missionary diary

By Fr. Paul Leung, SDB
Delegate of Mongolia

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, 18 April 2017

April 16 : Happy Easter! Today I have not so good news to share with you: Yesterday evening during the Easter Vigil Mass in Maria Auxilium Parish (Darkhan), Fr. Carlo collapsed after homily, the people called ambulance and brought him to hospital; this early morning with the permission of the doctor in Darkhan, he was transferred to the best hospital for heart and brain in Ulaanbaatar. In fact he got stroke and the left side of his body has no feeling! He is conscious and can talk a little bit even not so clear! Since today is Sunday, further medical check can only be done tomorrow! And now he has to stay in ICU and no body can enter except time for visiting; however three of our Don Bosco School Staff take turn to stay in hospital and standby there.

April 17 : Yesterday evening the whole SDB community in Ulaanbaatar went to hospital to see Fr. Carlo. He is still in ICU. According to the nurse of the ICU, the situation of Fr. Carlo is now stable, his blood pressure drop back to 150 and is keeping stable. He was conscious, even though he didn't say anything, he showed signs that he understood, and he received Holy Communion from the hand of our Bishop Wens Padilla. He recognize the people who visited him, and he also exercised his right hand and seemed writing something on air or on his chest. Our Mongolian staff are taking turn to stay in hospital to standby for we were not allowed to enter the ICU except the time for visit.

April 18 : Today the situation of Fr. Carlo is stable, the blood pressure is still high and he has headache. But today he has good appetite and ate a lot of food that prepared by Bro. Andrew. He can communicate through writing, and he asked when can he get out from hospital!!! And he asked for his own hand-phone for he wants to text to you, but the doctor forbid him as it is not allowed to use hand-phone inside the ward!

The doctor said that Fr. Carlo has to take good rest and under treatment in that hospital for 7 to 10 days, if he situation is ok, then he can be transferred to other private hospital where are nurses specially trained and especially for massage. For at least six months he should not have any stress!

This evening, Bro. Andrew will meet with a Filipino physical therapist who is also a volunteer in that hospital and he is also our Bosconian - Alumnus from the Philippines and he knows Fr. Carlo and is also willing to help. During next 10 days , Br. Andrew Phuong will be the one to communicate with you about the progress of Fr. Carlo, and you can contact with him by e-mail: phuongmongolia@gmail.com.

The Salesians of Mongolia are grateful for many EAO Salesians and Salesian Family member who pray for Fr. Carlo in these difficult days for his health recovery. We share one reply from CIN provincial: "Thank you for relaying to us the sad news so that we may assist with our prayer. Dear Fr. Carlo preached our Annual Retreat last year on Mystics in the Spirit to the great satisfaction of all 30 confreres who took part in that Retreat. All these confreres will be informed and asked to pray that dear Fr. Carlo may recover and continue his missionary work in Mongolia."

Please, pray for him, it is a very difficult time for Fr. Carlo. We pray that the Risen Lord will grant him the grace that he needs to overcome this difficult moment.

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