Life is Short
03 Jan 2012 6 Comments
in IDPs, Midwife mission trip Tags: malaria
I have been in shock since the phone call I received yesterday from Shalom. It was David’s father letting me know that he had suddenly passed away the day before. Even now, trying to write, I can hardly put my feelings into words. Grace and I are mourning and all I can think is how much I wish I was there at GIWA. It is proving to be very difficult to have those you consider family on two different continents.
For those of you who have not been able to get my “in-person” updates, we did find a placement for David before we left. It took many days, a lot of traveling and even more waiting; but we finally found the only school in Kenya specifically for children with cerebral palsy that was willing to accept David as a boarding student even though he would require more attention than most of the other children there. We were overjoyed as we watched the donations come in for the exact amount need for his tuition. When we left, all things were in place for David to begin school in January. We had delivered the long list of supplies he would need including a mattress and diapers for the year, as well as the costs for one of the parents to travel to the school on the monthly visitation days. Through the Catholic Diocese of Nakuru, he was supplied a properly fitted wheelchair, which we hoped would enable him to propel himself one day.
We and his parents were all so excited by the opportunities we hoped this would give to him and we shared our hopes for his future over the rare dinner of rabbit they prepared for the occasion. At 11 years old, this would be his first time to receive any schooling or therapy. David’s father told me that there had been many mzungu over the years to take his picture and make promises, but this time help was really happening.
The parents are handling the loss with courage and faith as Kenyans always do. Contrary to what many westerners seem to say and think, death is not easier for people of Africa. Yes, they experience it more often and they have a magnificent way of rising above their difficulties, but when a mother looses a child in Africa, she is no less broken. From what I can understand, he died from malaria.
The family hopes to bury him tomorrow. I am trying to contact the school for a refund of the year’s tuition in order to help with the hospital bill and cost of transporting him to Shalom.
I am sad. All I can do is try to help however I can from here. I am so grateful for knowing David. His smile, his warmth, his laugh.. we will never forget you.
