Nathan Andrew: suffering of the innocent for the life of the world
Mumbai (AsiaNews) – Nathan Andrew Crasto was the best gift his parents Christopher and Gina could have hoped for: a first born child who came to the world on 15 November.
Nathan weighed three kilos when he was born. Just a day after his birth, Nathan was elected to share in the sufferings of Christ. He began vomiting due to an intestinal infection and was immediately shifted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
For four days the doctors tried antibiotics to cure the infection but on 19 November, the infected intestines had to be surgically removed.
Before the operation, in the hospital itself, the baby was baptised Nathan Andrew.
When doctors opened him up they saw that more than 90% of the intestines were damaged. They cut out only 10% that was dead tissue and left the rest. There was a 5% chance of recovery.
Little Nathan was a fighter and in spite of his sickness, he would somehow respond to the voices of his parents. Sometimes he even managed to smile, making his mother’s eyes well up with tears of joy.
Each day, for four weeks, there were signs of recovery and hope. On 19 December, the doctor said part of the intestine had turned “pink” and this was an indication of healing. This meant it was worth another operation to join the healed intestines and to give the baby a fighting chance.
The second surgery was performed on 20 December. The operation was a success, and Nathan was recovering. Although he had only 5 cm of healthy intestines (children need at least 25 cm to survive), Nathan was progressing well and the stitches were healing fine. He was fed intravenously and put on weight.
Sadly, on the eve of Christmas, Nathan’s condition was once again critical, with blood oozing from the stitches.
His parents knew the time had come for Nathan to be united with His Heavenly Father. Never leaving his bedside in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for even one minute, they prayed continuously. His mother, in her sadness, prayed that their faith “would never doubt the love of God”. Christopher, the young father, prayed that “Nathan’s sufferings be offered for the conversion of the world”.
On Christmas night, when God became a child, Nathan died. His life lasted 40 days. His grandfather, Linus Crasto, compared the days of Nathan’s life to the 40 days spent by Christ in the desert.
Praying near the body of Nathan, his mother said: “O Lord, may I see your glory not in the death of Nathan, but in the resurrection. May the angels receive him and make a place for him among the choir of glory.”
The funeral of Nathan was a big celebration. Children and adults presented floral tributes and the singing of hymns resounded in church, blessing God for the gift of life and faith. At the mass, the celebrant, Fr Eddie, said Nathan had now become “a powerful intercessor, having shared in the passion of Christ in his 40 days on earth”.
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20/08/2021 11:37
