Br. Malachy Talks About His Covid Experience

Brother Malachy Buckley was born in Ferrendoyle, Derrygallon. He joined the foreign missions and as part of his long career has taught in cities and towns in Ireland along with far flung places such South Africa and Mauritius. He resides in Co. Laois with the De La Salle Brothers.

At breakfast I got a severe fit of coughing. This has happened at least ten times during the past year and there was no fuss. This time, however, the nurse came rushing in from the clinic. She approached me and ordered me straight to my room. She sat me on a chair and produced several medical tools. She put one up both passages of my nose. She asked me to open up my mouth and rooted around my throat. Then she announced I had covid and that I had to remain in my room for one week.

If I had suspected this I would have got a few library books and got my T.V. repaired. I was right in the middle of writing my 25 Christmas cards. They now had to be abandoned. No visitors, I cannot go to mass or go to community prayers. I am served my meals in my room, but I have no appetite and only R.T.E. television. The great blessing, I have in my room is a shrine to the Sacred Heart and his blessed mother which is on the wall opposite my pillow and my armchair. I look at that several times every day and night. It banishes loneliness and restores peace. The kitchen staff must be disappointed with me. One of them brings me lovely meals three times a day. They collect the same almost uneaten. I turn and twist in my bed at night with very little sleep. I have only little discomfort, but I miss the company of my friends, my Christmas mail has crashed against a rock. I ask myself, does all this make me miserable? No. I am quite content in myself. This is God’s gift to me. “Hurray” - the end is in sight. Wishing you all a happy and peaceful new year.