Family prays and hopes for son’s miracle

When nine-year-old Joshua was diagnosed with liver cancer in May last year, the family was informed that it would take nine weeks of tests and chemotherapy, after which, a review would be done to determine the next course of action. This first phase of treatment was to cost Sh1.5 million.

Almost a year later, Ahmed Ngombo and his wife Audrey haven’t worked on anything but making every day with their son count. Audrey put her postgraduate diploma studies on hold and her husband, a pastor in a Dar es Salaam church, hasn’t been to the pulpit since they packed their bags for Bangalore, India.

Joshua’s education, too, has been interrupted by the illness. The cost to the family is both financial and social.

“We counted the cost of staying in Dar es Salaam and felt that we wouldn’t want to blame ourselves if we stayed and something happened that would mean we would have to rush to India,” says Mr Ngombo.

Besides being uprooted from their home and emptying their bank accounts, their dearest cost is that of leaving behind their other son, Ephraim, 11. 

In India, the Ngombos are adjusting to a new culture.

“We even find ourselves shaking our heads just as the Indians do,” Audrey says with a chuckle.

A pot of yellow, green and red bell pepper or roasted lady fingers constitutes a meal in India and Audrey has learnt to make it palatable and even tasty. 

Even as the family acclimatises to Bangalore, they have watched the bill of the 10-course chemotherapy treatment soar. Since they travelled on medical visas, getting jobs is not an option. 

So the Ngombos turned to family and friends as they did strangers on virtual platforms in fundraising efforts using M-Changa, M-Pesa and other channels. But it’s not just the money that keeps them going. Well-wishers who stumble on their Facebook page have been calling the Ngombos to encourage them.

Crying is part of their therapy, Audrey says: “When we are praying or waiting on the Lord, we cry. When Joshua goes through chemotherapy, it is a very emotional time. Each week, we shed tears. This is not an easy journey. Even pastor has his moments.”

Joshua, who had part of his liver cut out last year, has been in and out of hospital but can now eat, although he is far away from the land of his favourite rice and beans combo. He has lost a lot of weight because of the treatment and medication.

“It is very difficult to watch your son go through all that. The journey has been tough but our faith and trust in God, our family, friends and the church have seen us through,” Audrey says, adding that she and her husband have suffered stress-related illnesses.

The family has learnt to rejoice over the simplest of things.  It was only in October last year that Joshua could finally take a proper bath.

That he has some energy to tour the malls in his new found home is a miracle, too. Having his brother visit for Christmas and a fruitcake from his aunt in Kenya was a big boost.

“We are quite at home here. Our Indian brothers and sisters have been good. One even came over and did our home shopping! It’s amazing to see how God has taken care of us since we have never been unable to pay our dues,” she says.

Mid-January, the family noticed a small swelling on Joshua’s chest area. Blood tests showed nothing.  Doctors at Narayana Hospital requested a biopsy for further investigations.

A week later, the report showed that there was nothing of concern, only that it could be an effect of the cancer drugs. Joshua was cleared to continue with the ninth cycle of chemotherapy.

“It is quite a journey I must say. One test after the other, tension, and every other emotion one can describe,” the pastor posted on Facebook.

“The mission hospital we eventually settled on has lowered our costs and that means that whatever little is raised by our supporters goes a long way,” he says.

Their church in Dar es Salaam has also been supportive. The hospital, too, supports them by providing chaplains and palliative care that improves the quality of life of patients’ families facing problems associated with life-threatening illness, through physical, psychosocial and spiritual support.

“The lessons Joshua has learnt through the school of life would never have been learnt in an ordinary school. So we haven’t lost anything. Inconceivable things happen in our lives but they bring with them life lessons. If we don’t learn these lessons, we will remain in the same place until we do,” Audrey says.