As Vincentians, we strive to walk in the footsteps of Jesus. That means not only handing out food and clothing, but creating lifelong bonds with people who are suffering.
For about ten years, Lenny* would visit our weekly feeding scheme at St Jude’s whenever he had no food. He stood out because of the way he lived his life with a smile, respect and perseverance in the face of the many challenges life threw at him.
Lenny had diabetes and had to have both legs amputated. When he suddenly stopped coming to our soup kitchen in August last year, one of our members traced him to the local hospital. His prognosis was not good. He had gangrene in both hands and the doctors planned to amputate his hands. We arranged for him to be placed a local home care facility after his operation, as he would no longer be able to care for himself after the operation.
As it turned out, the doctors decided not to operate. Instead, they cleaned the infection as best they could and sent Lenny home with pain medication and arranged for a care giver to visit regularly to clean the wounds and change his bandages.
This photo of him was taken four days after he was discharged from the hospital. Although he suffered with pain, he was all smiles. Nothing could get him down. When we could not find him at his house the following week, we discovered him behind the local supermarket, assisting his brother with car guard duties!
He lived with his brother and the pair had very little money. They had no electricity to ward off the freezing cold in winter. But although Lenny had very little and suffered the loss of limbs and consistent pain, he was always smiling, respectful and strived to make a living without resorting to begging.
In January he went back to hospital to have his hands amputated, but the gangrene was too far gone, and again the doctors decided not to operate. Lenny passed away in mid March and is now in a better place, free from pain. We are honoured and grateful to have been able to walk beside him for part of his journey, supporting him with food and friendship. And we are grateful to our many generous donors who provide the funds we need to keep our soup kitchen running.
*Name changed to protect identity