Tapiwa's Struggle
Tapiwa’s Struggle
She lived with us here at the Nursery for just one day. The morning after her arrival we took her to the hospital. Because of diarrhea she was losing fluids and therefore, weight. At 3 lbs. 12 oz. she had little margin. In spite of antibiotics, a feeding tube, and IV’s, after a week in the hospital she lost her struggle for life. Tapiwa died last night.
Malawians are surrounded with death. Virtually every week someone on the 20 member Nursery staff or someone on our 5 member house staff misses work to attend a funeral. Two weeks ago the long anticipated church service to celebrate the arrival of our new pastor was postponed in deference to a funeral service for the session clerk’s wife.
One of the first Tumbuka phrases we learned was “Mwenda uli ku nyifwa?” “How was your trip to the funeral?” According to deeply imbedded cultural custom any and all family, friends, colleagues and relatives are expected to travel to the deceased’s home village so they can be buried where they were born. This can be very expensive and time consuming.
Last week I (Paul) drove 9 mourners back to Tapiwa’s home village to deliver her tiny body for burial. Since she was a daughter of the Nursery, we are also responsible for funeral arrangements. Weighing just 3 pounds, Tapiwa hardly took up any room in the cardboard box she travelled in. We sat in a circle on the cement floor of a small and barren family room. When the tiny blanket-wrapped body was removed from the box, I was surprised by the tears which rolled down my cheeks. After some Tumbuka greetings and prayers a blue plastic deck chair appeared out of nowhere for “Bwana.” I could no more have remained sitting on the floor than I could have refused to cry.
Sometimes we simply receive a baby too late. Often those who are sick don’t have even the food they need. Many times malaria, TB, and AIDS threaten the survival of these precious ones.
To be sure, death in Malawi is a common, pervasive part of life. Nevertheless, it is every bit as sad and devastating for those left behind. Death causes great hardship. It spawns many orphans. It wreaks havoc in families, in the workplace, and on the nation as a whole. But for Tapiwa, the struggle is over.
She lived with us here at the Nursery for just one day. The morning after her arrival we took her to the hospital. Because of diarrhea she was losing fluids and therefore, weight. At 3 lbs. 12 oz. she had little margin. In spite of antibiotics, a feeding tube, and IV’s, after a week in the hospital she lost her struggle for life. Tapiwa died last night.
Malawians are surrounded with death. Virtually every week someone on the 20 member Nursery staff or someone on our 5 member house staff misses work to attend a funeral. Two weeks ago the long anticipated church service to celebrate the arrival of our new pastor was postponed in deference to a funeral service for the session clerk’s wife.
One of the first Tumbuka phrases we learned was “Mwenda uli ku nyifwa?” “How was your trip to the funeral?” According to deeply imbedded cultural custom any and all family, friends, colleagues and relatives are expected to travel to the deceased’s home village so they can be buried where they were born. This can be very expensive and time consuming.
Last week I (Paul) drove 9 mourners back to Tapiwa’s home village to deliver her tiny body for burial. Since she was a daughter of the Nursery, we are also responsible for funeral arrangements. Weighing just 3 pounds, Tapiwa hardly took up any room in the cardboard box she travelled in. We sat in a circle on the cement floor of a small and barren family room. When the tiny blanket-wrapped body was removed from the box, I was surprised by the tears which rolled down my cheeks. After some Tumbuka greetings and prayers a blue plastic deck chair appeared out of nowhere for “Bwana.” I could no more have remained sitting on the floor than I could have refused to cry.
Sometimes we simply receive a baby too late. Often those who are sick don’t have even the food they need. Many times malaria, TB, and AIDS threaten the survival of these precious ones.
To be sure, death in Malawi is a common, pervasive part of life. Nevertheless, it is every bit as sad and devastating for those left behind. Death causes great hardship. It spawns many orphans. It wreaks havoc in families, in the workplace, and on the nation as a whole. But for Tapiwa, the struggle is over.
posted by Paul and Darlene Heller at 9:05 AM
2 Comments:
I must remember to let you know that I have logged on. I just shared your site with Lois Luthman. Erica is pregnant (high risk-not metabolizing folic acid) and Lois was eager to see what you are doing with your little ones. As much as this struggle brings tears, Tapiwa is no longer in your very skilled hands, she is in The Best Hands... God's
Love you, Jerrine
I must remember to let you know that I have logged on. I just shared your site with Lois Luthman. Erica is pregnant (high risk-not metabolizing folic acid) and Lois was eager to see what you are doing with your little ones. As mush as this struggle brings tears, Tapiwa is no longer in your skilled hands, she is in The Best Hands.
Love you, Jerrine
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