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Personal testimony of Marietta Uy of Tzu Chi Cebu on the late Sis. Amy
I'm not so good with words, but maybe I can try to give you some of my
feelings/observation/feedback regarding Auntie Amy to give you a better
view of how and who she was.
Very down to earth. She's not the type of person who would expect people
to do things for her. In fact she's the first person to insist that we
should not be inconvenienced in her behalf. When she would go to hue so
for meetings without her brother, she would hitch a ride home with some
members but only if they were going her way. Sometimes she would ride with
me but only on the condition that I leave her on the corner and she would
walk all the way home. Can you imagine that? By car, from the corner to
her house is only a couple of minutes away but she wouldn't agree for me to
drive her all the way home because its dark inside and she would worry
about me but she told me not to worry about her because she's used to it. I
had to agree to her condition because I felt that driving her home halfway
is better than her walking by herself all the way home.
By first hand experience and though feedback from others, I know that this
is how she is. It does not matter how much she herself is being
inconvenienced as long as she feels that she's not inconveniencing others.
As being one of the few people who knew earlier on that she had cancer, I
cannot help but admire her. I don't know why she confided her illness to me
but I would be forever grateful for having the opportunity to get to know
her better and to witness her bravery firsthand. I hope that one day,
should I face whatever she has faced, I would be half as brave, practical
and as grounded as she was.
Despite having physical discomfort, she's not one to ask for special
treatment. The only concession she did ask was for her to be assigned to
the front seat so that she can stretch out her feet during the long ride to
the medical mission site. Despite being diagnosed with a late stage of
cancer, she did not let go of her life. From I have gathered from our few
conversations, she would like to do as much as she can in Tzu Chi for as
long as she can. This, indeed she did prove. She went to as much medical
missions as physically possible. For those who didn't know she was
grappling with cancer, she was a bundle of energy, introducing Tzu Chi to
others, bringing smiles and laughter to waiting patients. For me who knew
and observed her, she was a great source of inspiration. It was hard to
observe, from one medical mission to the next, how cancer had put a toil on
her physically. Yet, whenever put to task, she put all her heart to
it. Being younger and of better health than she was, I don't have the
energy she had in what she was doing. Talking to room-full of patients,
being upbeat and enthusiastic about it. Whatever room she would be in,
there would surely be music and laughter.
This is just one part of her, there are other aspects her life wherein she
was equally inspiring. Even though she was the one with the cancer, the one
suffering physical discomfort, she's also the first one to give
encouragement and solace. Whenever we were talking and I get to hear of
discouraging news about her condition, our roles reversed. Instead of me
giving her solace, she would tell me in a matter of fact tone, not to feel
sorry for her. She has, from the beginning, told me that she has accepted
what will be will be. She was not giving up hope of the chances of being
cured, but she is ready and has accepted that anytime she will leave us. To
the last few days of the life, at her weakest condition, she has shown me
that she had stayed firm. Don't feel sorry for her, she did the best had
she could do, and she was ready for anything.
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