Mangalore: Noble gesture: Charlie donates body to Father Muller College


By John B Monteiro

Mangalore, Apr 14: On the evening of April 13 in a shamiana in the forecourt of Bellore church, which is under major renovation, in a moving ceremony, Sr Hilaria, eldest sister of Charles Monteiro (Charlie), her youngest brother, handed over documents donating his full body to Fr Vincent Monteiro, who accepted them on behalf of Father Muller Medical College. Both spoke movingly about Charlie’s noble gesture and the need for more people to donate organs and full body to hospitals and medical colleges.
 
Charlie died at the age of 58 years on April 11. After the funeral mass, his body was not interred in the church cemetery – as almost all Catholics do - or cremated as very few opt for, or given a water burial as in the case of Bin Laden. Rather, a hearse carried his inert body to the morgue of Father Muller Hospital and College at Kankanady, Mangalore, where he had been earlier kept pending his funeral rites.

Charlie was the youngest of us seven children and, for good reasons, could not go beyond PUC at St Aloysius College. But he was a learner all his life, knowledgeable in a variety of subjects through the radio, TV, books, magazines and newspapers. One of the things he learnt was that the dead body has its uses. So, when his life as a cancer patient over the last five years saw ups and downs, bouts of hope and despair and, finally, only despair when the disease reached its terminal stage, he had an altruistic vision of life after death. He visualised himself turning from a student while alive to a teaching instrument after his death – by donating his body for study by medical students and researchers.

Sometime last year, he asked me to get the forms from Father Muller to facilitate full body donation. I got the forms, saw that they were signed by him, his close relatives and witnesses. I also met the Director of the hospital, Fr Patrick Rodrigues. Donating a body was new territory for us and a smooth, dignified handling of the process was crucial for soothing the bereaved family. Fr Patrick was most encouraging and helpful and offered to organise the smooth transfer of the body – and he did. Charlie’s son, Deepak, who went to the hospital to deliver the body, finished the job in a jiffy and returned to his residence at Kalpane, on the BC Road-Polali Road, within an hour to commence the post-funaral ceremonies which include prayers and consolation for the bereaved family and partaking “Mourning Pez” (rice gruel) with chutney and pickle.

During this period, I was associated with the Catholic Association of South Canara (CASK), which is currently celebrating its centenary; I was writing its history, which has since been published under the title CASK and Fellow Centurions. One of the centenary projects of CASK is augmenting the morgue capacity of Father Muller Hospital and promoting organ and full body donation, the first for transplanting and the second for dissecting and study by medical students and researchers. At a meeting of the Governing Council of CASK, with the Bishop present, the subject of organ/body donation came up and Fr Patrick observed that even after persons go through the formalities of body donation as per the wishes of the prospective donor, after the person dies, family members often rescind on the dead person’s decision. It is to the credit of Charlie’s close family that they respected the decision when he made it, fully supported it and had no second thoughts on the subject after his demise. His family noted the body donation in the obituary announcement and the Daijiworld website has readers lauding his decision, one person, Marian from Mangalore wrote: A very noble thought indeed by a great noble soul. Donating his body for medical study and research is the greatest gift Charles has given back to god. He has inspired me and I too will follow.”
 
Incidentally, Charlie might have a surprise for those who dissect his body – they will not find his spleen. When he was in his teens, he was assailed by a rare disease in which his red blood cells were destroyed and turned white. He would become very anaemic and had to be propped up by expensive drugs prescribed by leading doctors in Bombay. Faced with recurring episodes of this yo-yo life, the doctors took the risk of removing his spleen, though they feared that it would reduce his immunity factor. The feared recurrence of diseases never materialised till cancer did him in. I am bringing this up so that the dissectors at Father Muller Medical College do not waste their time and go on a wild goose chase for the missing spleen.

In conclusion, it is for the likes of Charlie that William Shakespeare, English dramatic poet (1564-1616) had said in Julius Caesar:

“Cowards die many times before their death;
The valiant never taste death but once.
Of all the wonders that I yet have heard,
It seems to me most strange that men should fear;
Seeing that death, a necessary end,
Will come when it will come.”
In the case of Charlie, death was not a necessary end.

My own memories of Charlie are mixed. The pleasant ones include his last social outing on July 17, 2013 to participate in my platinum jubilee celebration party which had an Howaian theme and the farewell I bid before the hearse moved away from Bellore church headed for Father Muller morgue - as reflected in the photos alongside.

  

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Comment on this article

  • John B. Monteiro, Bondel Mangalore

    Tue, Apr 15 2014

    Thank you all respondents for your generous comments, especially your support for organ/body donation. This is soothing balm to Charlie's grieving family. John B. Monteiro

    DisAgree [2] Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • mariam, mangalore

    Mon, Apr 14 2014

    Mr Charles donation is indeed a very very noble and heavenly gesture for the good of the world and for the glory of God.

    Consider the number of people who can be helped with the body donation.

    Consider the waste when the body is buried in the mud. Does it serve any purpose.

    We Christians need to wake up and move out of our old thinking. Give back to God and His fellow men what he has given you. Eyes, kidneys, liver, bone marrow, etc. etc are being reused and new lives are regenerated by this donation.

    Burying in the mud does not help us to give back to God and His people who are suffering on this earth, right around us.

    I have decided to right in my will for the donation of eyes, and other parts and full body for medical research. Likewise, our family members too have decided on this and surely there will be more and more people who will follow this. They will see how much sense it makes to donate. They will get a sense of well being and fulfillment and eternal blessings from the Lord.

    Praise to Mr Charles and his noble gestures and goodwill. His family will feel the blessings showered.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • Joe D'Souza, Mangalore

    Mon, Apr 14 2014

    Rest in Peace Charli's Soul. Great Gift to Mankind. Through Him many will learn what a Human Being is. Fr.Vincent Monteiro requested more people to come forward with gesture donating their bodies in full or Organs. But so far I never heard a single Religious Person of any Religion donating their God Blessed Bodies. Why So?

    DisAgree [4] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ajay Lobo, Mangalore

    Tue, Apr 15 2014

    Because it applies only to a common man.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • c ferrer, mangalore

    Mon, Apr 14 2014

    I take my hat off to my namesake Charlie for his noble gesture. I now have a suggestion to make to the College and or CASK that they build a monument within the College campus and mention the names of all those who do cadaver donations-this will replace the tombstone that otherwise would have been in one of the cemeteries.
    Maybe a plaque too for those who donate organs would be a gesture for posterity.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • Glenn, Mangalore

    Mon, Apr 14 2014

    I salute the brave person Charlie.It is hard and painful decision to donate a body to medical college.It is a purely emotional issue.According to catholic practices during funeral body lowered into the grave offering prayers priest as well as all people put a handful of mud as an obligation.Close relatives visit the graveyard during monthly mass,yearly mass and in between whenever miss them badly just to pray.Every time come out of cemetry with wet eyes.I had seen all these since my childhood days.It is very hard for me to imagine the sacrifice this great persons family made.I wish every medical student to respect the cadaver they dissect.Though it is a mere object on the table but it was gifted by suppressing someone's emotions and religious beliefs.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [21] Reply Report Abuse

  • R.Bhandarkar, M'lore

    Mon, Apr 14 2014

    R.I.P. Baab Charlie.
    I for sure know the real meaning of
    R.I.P. in case of certain individuals who live and die for a cause.Very well depicted by Monterio Sir.
    Have heard and read somewhere that the 'organs donated' sometimes carry the same traits into the body of the receiver. In my case if I donate some critical organs I am sure that the guy would immediately...
    1. Open the Daiji web-site.
    2. Try to write romantic poems.
    3. Go for the numbers in my 'personal mobile' set.
    4. Spend evening with the spirits.
    5. Try to make amends with a few beauties...and...
    What ..want still more aa?
    Let me live peacefully at least till....
    Hats off Charlie...Rest peacefully in the Lap of the Lord....

    DisAgree [6] Agree [48] Reply Report Abuse

  • HENRY MISQUITH, Bahrain

    Mon, Apr 14 2014

    A grand salute deserving for this 58 year old Charlie, who wished to donate his body and the greatness of the relatives who fulfilled his last wish Some people are born great but very few attain greatness due to their acts in life and their last wish at 58 years to donate their body for the usefulness of these Medical Colleges,that's such a splendid thought of an nobleman, may God bless his soul!
    Henry M,/Bahrain

    DisAgree [1] Agree [36] Reply Report Abuse

  • Joe Gonsalves, Mangalore

    Mon, Apr 14 2014

    Before I say anything about the brave person Charlie, I would like to say kudos to John Monteiro who I know very well and who has highlighted this story. This is a reminder to many that instead of letting their bodies be interred or incinerated, they can be put to great use for medical research and studies. John thank you for a reminder to many of what their concepts in life can be.

    I would say along with many that Charles is indeed a ROLE MODEL to many. He lived a short but fruitful life, but died the death of a hero. I also say a word of appreciation about Charlies's bereaved, but noble family for their willingness to let Charlie have his wish.

    It is my sincere thought and wishes that many follow Charlie's example and help the world in a better way.

    Joe Gonsalves

    DisAgree [5] Agree [34] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jennet Prescilla, Mangalore Muscat

    Mon, Apr 14 2014

    A noble deed indeed. The student doctors are advised to treat the cadavers they work on to treat with respect, as they were human beings like any of us. In this particular case, I hope the students who pursue their medical studies not only remember a generous person who donated his body for their studies, but say a small prayer for the repose of his dear departed soul. He will live in his generosity. May Almighty grant eternal rest to the dear departed soul of Mr. Charles Monteiro. A special thanks to Mr. John B. Monteiro too for writing this article and bringing this generous gesture of Mr. Charles Monteiro to the attention of the Public. The very rich and befitting tribute to the person who is no more.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [47] Reply Report Abuse


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Title: Mangalore: Noble gesture: Charlie donates body to Father Muller College



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