Archives

by Ilika Karunaratne

Chrissy Aloysius's life revolves round her husband, Denis and his work, which she is involved in too. For Chrissy and Denis, it was a 'coup de foudre' as the French call love at first sight. Not in the usual salubrious venue associated with romance, but at the University Catholic Students' Federation camp, when he was a medical student and she was doing her BA. at Peradeniya.

"We have been married for 46 years and have spent only five days apart. Ours was an inter communal marriage and I am glad that so many others have followed our example. Even when I was in hospital to have our babies and I had five; Denis would invariably stay with me in hospital. I must confess that I am rather an old fashioned wife who serves my husband at every meal, before I sit down to join him."

Chrissy and Denis obviously have a marriage made in Heaven. Not only has their bliss lasted, but it is in sharp contrast to the theory that marriage has a better chance of survival, if the couple do not work together. I suppose one cannot have hard and fast rules for this as marriages do not stay in neat, tidy shapes but do sprawl about messily sometimes.

The duo of doctor brothers, Denis and Hubert, were among my father's favourite students, and were famed for their irrepressibly high spirits. Time, fortunately, has not dimmed Denis' sense of fun. I recall my father fondly calling him 'Denis the Menace'. "I work with Denis on a daily basis as Practice Manager at the Galkissa Clinic, which he started in 1960. I am receptionist, secretary, accountant and research assistant.

It is a family practice and my seat is in the waiting room. But my husband sends for me about 25 or 30 times a day to join him in advising patients on various aspects of health care and diet. The patients know me well, have confidence in me and talk to me about various problems, not only confined to health. I enjoy my work and find it immensely satisfying.

If I had to live my life all over again, the choice of both husband and work would be the same! Denis is editor of two medical journals and recently collaborated with Professor Herbert Aponso and Professor Harendra de Silva in a publication, entitled, 'Your child, Your Family".Chrissy has a very active role too as Founder President of the Doctors Wives' Association. I was keen to find out the inspiration behind the idea. "I think the idea first dawned on me at a medical meeting. I noticed two ladies standing away from everyone else looking rather lonely and left out.

I invited them to join the others but they said they were reluctant to do so, as they didn't know anyone. This set me thinking that an association like this would be a good way of building friendship among wives. Our husbands meet frequently and are in a most noble profession, but like in others too, there are sometimes petty jealousies and misunderstandings, I felt that if we as wives were working together, to support our husbands by doing social service in the field of health, we would have a stronger bonding and smooth things over for our husbands."

What kind of service does the Doctors Wives' Association do? "We organize Health Camps, Eye Camps, Health Education Programmes, have screening tests for Diabetes and Hypertension, distribute free medicines, free vitamins and other nutritional needs like milk. During the past two years, we have set up home-based first aid units in remote, rural areas and will continue that this year too. We select people and get them trained under a doctor, a nurse and a health educator. After that, we set up an unit in a home, pay for the medicine and monitor the project. Of course this is only for emergencies and cases that require first aid."

How do you get your funds? "God has blessed us so abundantly which enables us to spend much on ourselves. We have a council of 25 members, from a membership of 530 members. At our council meetings, each one of us contributes Rs. 1000, this gives us Rs. 25,000 at every meeting, which means that we do not have to go round with a begging bowl all the time. We have one fundraising project each year with a souvenir and the monies collected from that, funds our work too. This evening is generally one of fellowship, with a skit, followed by dinner."

I discovered that Chrissy has many hidden talents, which she is modest about. She had won the Golden Clef Award in 1995 for the best song writer. "I wrote the lyrics, and Sunil of the Gypsies composed the music. the song is called 'Our Land' and is constantly being played on radio and T.V. Five skits written by me were staged with our members and their husbands as the actors and actresses. I am in the process of writing a new play and a new song too, with the Gypsies composing the music. I write some poetry and have written a school anthem for an International school."

Unfortunately, Chrissy is devoid of the constant doting love that is a grandmother's prerogative on a daily basis, as her 7 grandchildren, all live in Australia. "But we are in constant touch on the phone and on e-mail and share all their joys and sorrows. Our son lives here and is a Paediatrician at the Jayewardenepura Hospital."

As some in her shoes may do, Chrissy does not waste time moaning that her daughters live away, but makes the most of what she has in life, never failing to thank God for his blessings. "I think it is a great privilege for me to work in the practice as it has enabled me to get to know people from all walks of life.

We exchange ideas; they pick my brains and I pick theirs. If ones goal is to make others happy, one has no time for gossip. I often find that 24 hours is insufficient for my work and my interests. Both Denis and I do marriage and youth counselling at St. Lawrence's Church once a week. Denis is a most supportive husband, always cheerful, never speaks ill of anyone and we are both deeply religious. Apart from loving my husband, I respect and admire him too, which is just as important."

Chrissy is one who is interminably good natured with instant and surprising warmth and the blithest of temperaments. She has a calmness which is immensely engaging. Her husband and his work is the dual purpose of her life; it gives her life its colour and its inspiration. It has dispelled depression, fought despair, increased joy and created energy.

Leisure to Chrissy, it seems, is a tedious commodity, welcome only for brief interludes.

www.crescat.com

News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries |

Produced by Lake House
Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager