Rest in Peace Mum

2009-06-10 08:00:00. We got the call, come quick and take her to hospital. On our way we were told, go straight to hospital. And at the hospital we were told, she's left us. And that's when our family's worst ever nightmare began.

The postmortem results showed that she'd had a heart attack (yeah, just like MJ) due to atherosclerosis i.e. the arteries bringing blood to her heart were clogged with cholesterol, hence the heart muscle cells died slowly over the last couple of years due to reduced oxygen supply. Since mum had been quite healthy all her life (and not overweight), it came as a shock for all of us.

Funeral was the other Friday (19th) and it was a really rough ride for the husband, daughters (the one in the US couldn't come however), son and grand daughter left behind. But by God's grace, and the love, support and contributions of relatives, neighbours, friends, workmates and strangers, we are still here, still standing, trying to move on.

So what was mum like? A month shy of her 60th birthday (her birth cert was less 4 years though), she was a retired secretary who took up poultry farming, and had also explored business opportunities in Southern Sudan. She was a strong believer, committed to prayer and counselling the many women she came across in the hood and beyond. She loved to laugh (was the founder chairperson of her chama called 'Mitheko' group) and looked out for the best in everyone.

My best memory of her? When she sided with me and not my high school teachers during Form Four 1st Term open day. I'd performed poorly, mainly because I was more focussed on interschool games. I told her (in my capacity of vice capt) that our hockey team needed to make it to the national finals and that I'd pick up my studies after the ball games. Turns out our team made it to the national final itself, and I got the highest possible grade in high school. And that's what any kid would want in a mum: to believe in his/her dreams.

I'll follow my dreams all the way through, and I know I'll make it. Sadly, she won't be here to share in my success, in as much as she deserved it.

I'll miss you mum. RIP.