A young Filipino woman accomplished great things despite her physical disabilities.
By Fr. Fintan Murtagh

Her name was Melody. It must be more than 20 years since I first met her.

Her legs had been crippled by polio since she was only 3 or 4 years old. The lower part of her body was severely deformed by the polio. She moved herself in a sitting position by propelling her feet with her hands.

I first met her on a Saturday afternoon at the chapel in her barrio in Olongapo City where I serve in the Philippines. A friend had transported her on a tricycle from her house to the door of the chapel. She was able to maneuver herself from there.

After Mass, I chatted with Melody and her companions and learned she was attending a local elementary school whenever someone could transport her there.

It occurred to me that it would be a great help if she could transport herself to school on her own. I had seen a photo of a tricycle that could be pedaled by hand. I showed the photo to a local welder, and he was able to produce one for Melody.

Melody’s legs were crippled by polio since she was a child. Despite her disability, Melody was able to complete her high school education.

I visited Melody often and had a nurse give her advice about exercises that would help her poor body. A neighbor made parallel bars so she could practice walking with supports attached to both legs.

Melody gamely tried, but the polio had done too much damage. But Melody never gave up. She finished her elementary education, went on to high school and eventually studied computer science in college.

In 2001, Melody was selected by Japan’s Duskin Ainowa Foundation, which gives special training in independent living to handicapped people. From the start, she was delighted with the experience.

Melody met so many other handicapped people and immediately developed connections with them. She had to develop basic Japanese language skills and was soon able to communicate with them. Then she received individual training in advocacy, networking, organizational management, independent living, peer counseling and some topics specific to Japan.

In addition to this, she lived alone in an apartment, doing everything for herself such as shopping, cooking and washing.

As soon as she returned to the Philippines, she wasted no time in setting up a center for independent living in her own town of Olongapo City. She gave orientations on independent living to 15 handicapped people after her return.

It wasn’t long after when Melody contracted lupus and died on April 10, 2005. She was only 28 years old.

But she accomplished so much in her short life. Her independent-living program became the community-based rehabilitation program of the Diocese of Iba. This ministry has touched the lives of nearly 1,000 handicapped people in her hometown.

Melody has passed on. But her spirit and example will continue to inspire us for a long time. I thank God that our paths crossed. Rest in peace, Melody, and we will continue along the path you have shown us. You are gone but your memory still inspires us, still lingers on.

Columban Father Fintan Murtagh has spent nearly all of his 43 years as a priest as a missionary in the Philippines.