Last night we were informed a guardian for two of our kids (siblings) had passed away. He was an elderly grandfather who had gone out to his shamba (garden) to work in the morning, came into his house for lunch and complained to his neighbor he was having chest pains. He was taken to the hospital but died en route. So you have a better understanding of the situation, he was taken to the hospital by private car…no ambulances in the villages and he was probably taken to a local clinic, not an actual hospital, again not available in most villages.
This is the way in much of Kenya. Many are not able to get the medical attention they desperately need and if they can make it there they normally do not have the funds required for treatment. If they are able to pay something and are allowed admittance to the hospital some are kept in “hospital jail”, racking up a daily bill and not allowed to leave until the bill is paid in full….but that’s another blog post.
The grandfather was the only relative for these two children and was also their guardian. Their mother had left them several years ago and the identity and whereabouts of the father is unknown. Grandfather has been a father to these children for most of their life and cried with happiness when they visited him this past December.
Please keep these two kids in your prayers as the only peace they can have in this situation comes from our Heavenly, loving and compassionate, Father.