PALMA PILEGGI

I have known Palma since she was born. Since her childhood, she was sweet, gentle and happy. She lived in Capistrano near the main piazza, a place she loved to go to any time she could.

As a child, she left Italy with her parents, Saro and Maria Pileggi, and moved to Montreal, in Canada. Palma was growing healthy and tranquil until one day, at the age of eight, while taking a walk with her parents, she started losing her balance. At first, her parents thought she was playing. Soon they became concerned, and asked what was the problem and she answered that she could not see. These were the tragic words that began an endless crucible for her and her family.

The temporary blindness convinced the parents to take her to a doctor and then to a hospital. The sudden and temporary blindness was found to have been caused by a high amount of fluid in her brain which was, in turn, caused by brain tumours.

From that time on, the poor child started going through a very challenging time. Palma was immediately operated on, but her body continues to produce other tumours year after year. In all, Palma went through 14 operations to excise the tumours that relentlessly grew on the surface of her brain. Even today, the tumours continue to re-appear without ceasing.

Unfortunately, the many operations had some unexpected consequences. At present, in her forties, Palma has almost totally lost her eyesight, her hearing has been greatly impaired and she has great trouble maintaining her balance, when walking.

As a result of her illness, Palma did not have the opportunity of experiencing a happy childhood, like most people. Palma never had the joy of experiencing marriage and of having children. Palma has only known much suffering. All of this could have caused in Palma bitterness toward God and life. It could have made her angry and harsh toward others as well – but the opposite, instead, is true.

The sweet child of the past is still sweet today, in spite of all the tribulations she has gone through. Palma has faced her crucible with tranquillity and has always retained her sweetness.

Palma loves her brothers, sisters, nephews and nieces and her mother in particular. Palma is always sweet and gentle with the nurses and the doctors she constantly deals with. Palma is always filled with love toward others and, as the mother assures us, she is always ready to help others in any small way she can and is thoughtful of others, in spite of her many limitations.

As the year go by, the challenges she must face have increased; the medications she must now take are stronger than ever; the pains she must endure are stronger than ever as well. There are plenty of reasons, now more than ever, why Palma should become bitter; but Palma remains unchanged. She was sweet as honey and she remains sweet as honey.

Palma is an incomparable jewel, and she deserves to be called, “An Angel.” She has shown to have deserved this name through years of painful trials and she continues to show it today as her trials become more grievous than ever.

Palma’s Cousin

PS. After much suffering, Palma passed away January 30, 2012.