I was in a meeting when his call came. Well we hadn't talked this year so I decided to excuse myself from the meeting to respond to the urgent caller.
"Nguendaga gukwira atiriri, Eriki niatutiga" (I wanted to tell you Erick has left us).
I did not quite get it quickly. Neither did I know what to say. So I asked if he can allow me to call back in a few.
I sat back and tried to reflect on what the caller has just said. The message was brief but piercing.
Erick is a young man who has been doing extremely well despite his health condition. Even when in pain he still accompanies his groans with faint smile.
After few minutes I called back. I needed clearer details and where the caller was. But I also made a quick call to Fuata Nyuki. He too was in the dark regarding the new happenings but agreed I'll brief him more later.
The journey from Garden City to Kiambu road took forever. But it gave me a chance to reflect on the 11 months journey we have taken with this family since we appealed to online well wishers for Erick's treatment.
I remembered the emotional appeal Baba Erick made requesting Mama Erick to come back for the sake of their surviving two children. I remembered the follow up meetings and tracing Mama Erick. I remember the many updates I used to receive regarding the young man. And of cause our last meeting in December 2019 when I was issuing a cheque for rent payment.
Erick and his dad were in the last few weeks staying at their rural home in Kagwi, Githunguri. Yes, for Christmas. And since the doctors had not given a go ahead in regards to kidney transplant, he had to religiously travel to KNH twice a week for dialysis.
Today was one of those days.
It was a rainy morning in Githunguri leading to delaying of the safari between father and son. I had not mentioned Mama Erick reunited with her family a couple of weeks back. So she prepared her people for KNH trip.
Erick and his dad boarded a matatu from Githunguri at 8am or thereabout. He was bubbly as always and could occasionally throw his eyes outside the matatu just to enjoy the beauty of God's creation. At some point he saw his Uncle (baba mdogo) and alerted his dad, 'ucio baba munyinyi'.
Just past Kiambu town he told his dad he had felt a sharp pain on his back. But it didn't sound serious so they continued. But before they could get to Thindigua he told his dad, 'Baba nindiraremwo ni kuhihia' (dad I'm experiencing difficulty in breathing). Dad was now alarmed and wondering what to do. Fellow passengers alerted the driver who quickly found his way to St. Teresa Hospital at Thindigua. As the vehicle made it's way, Dad felt his son hold his hand tightly.
At the emergency the doctor examined the patient. It's at that point he delivered the dreaded two words, 'poleni, ametuacha'.
Baba Erick stepped out and made a few calls, one to me.
When I joined him, his two other brothers had arrived. One of them was the 'baba mdogo' Erick had seen earlier while they were in the matatu.
Erick lay still but warm. The morgue attendant kept watch and when I had had enough conversation with the little one he moved him to the freezer (or whatever). Baba Erick was all this time explaining to me what happened as he wiped off tears with a handkerchief.
But we were in agreement. Erick received lots of love from mum, dad, bro, other relatives and thousands of Kenyans who stepped in when his dad called for help. 2019 was way better for him. He went to eternal sleep a happy young man.
Although he was to report for class 8 tomorrow morning at Mutuini Primary in Dagoreti, this didn't materialise. God had a different plan.
At 10 am he joined his 4 other siblings in heaven.
Fare thee well Erick. We loved you with our all. We still love you little son.
Till we meet.
In the Picture: Erick (shortest in the picture), his dad, brother and friends when they visited their home at Kirigu Dagoreti in February 2019
Tags:
News