WE TIP OUR HATS OFF AS AOA REGIONAL PRESIDENT DATO JOHN CARDOSA CELEBRATES HIS 81ST BIRTHDAY!

“Great men lose somewhat of their greatness by being near us; ordinary men gain much.”

Walter Landor

The story of Dato John David Cardosa goes a long way as he turns 81 this fourth of June. I believe he has touched a lot of people’s lives merely by the energy and passion in the way he has been living life and that is by just being near ordinary men.

He reveals that he had made a vow in the year 1972 when he was given a death sentence by his doctors then. It was at that time that he made a vow to serve his fellowmen for as long as he is able to do. It inspires everyone to know that he has been faithful in his promise to our Lord and Master who have actually gifted him with 36 more years and still going strong. Dato John quips that “every additional day I am alive is a bonus, it is the reason for me to serve Him through my fellow ostomates and cancer survivors.”

John Cardosa is on his second 3 year term as AOA President in his own right. In 1998, the then President, Hj Zainuddin Tahir of Malaysia, was unable to travel to IOA Executive Meetings due to illness, and deputized John Cardosa to attend IOA Executive Meetings in his stead.

Afterwards, he was elected AOA President in his own right in 1999 and served for 3 years until the Manila Conference in 2002. At the House of Delegates' Meeting in Manila, John Cardosa proposed Dr Harikesh Buch of Mumbai as the AOA President for the term of office 2002 to 2005. But Dr Buch refused to accept this position unless John Cardosa remained on the AOA Council as Secretary and Treasurer. John had to agree to those terms, and Dr Harikesh Buch, who was then an ileostomate of some 25 years' standing or more, was elected the AOA President, while John Cardosa served as Secretary and Treasurer of the AOA.

In 2005, at the Bangkok AOA Conference, he was again voted in as President of the AOA. So in actual fact, this is the third term John Cardosa is serving as AOA Presidency. Dato John Cardosa looks back at all the past years with gratitude as he decides to finally retire from the International Ostomy scene. Yet, he assures his people and friends that he will continue to be active in the Malaysian Ostomy Association, in the Hospice Movement, and in the Cancer Society for as long as he is healthy and able to serve his fellow ostomates and cancer survivors.

Note that, as can be seen from the tracheostomy tube in his throat in the photographs above, John has also survived cancer of the larynx, and uses a combination of esophageal and laryngeal speech, thus resulting in his own words, “in a very sexy voice.”

We wish you our sincerest greetings and prayers especially with the people you inspired during the conference here in Manila. God bless you and grant you good health in all your endeavors. Maligayang Kaarawan Sa Iyo… (Happy Birthday to you!)