Who will come through? Rejections!
On our way, I came across a hardworking man mending old and torn clothes for himself. His hands, worn and calloused, spoke volumes about a life filled with struggle. He wasn’t born into this condition; he ended up here through a series of unfortunate events. Life has been harsh, especially since he can’t perform the activities he once took for granted.
As he began to share his story, I could see the weight of his words in his eyes. “I had a good life when I was well,” he said, his voice trembling with the memories. “At home, I was the provider for my family. I took pride in my ability to support my loved ones. But that pride has been shattered.”
“When I started getting sick, it felt like the ground fell away beneath me. I found myself left with only my grandmother. I don’t know where my siblings went after our parents passed away; it’s a painful void that haunts me daily. This loneliness is a heavy burden to bear.”
He continued, “I had a wheelchair once, but when it broke, I lost my independence. I have older children now, some married and starting their own lives, but I haven’t seen them in what feels like an eternity. The distance between us grows, and it hurts more than I can express.”
“I pay school fees for two of them,” he shared, his voice filled with both pride and sorrow. “I don’t live with them because my house is too small. Every shilling I manage to scrape together goes to their education, even if it means I go without. I want them to have a future, but it comes at a great personal cost.”
Tears welled in his eyes as he admitted, “I often go hungry. Just yesterday, we didn’t eat at all. My grandmother tried so hard to find food, but there was nothing to be found. It breaks my heart to see her struggle, especially when she tries again today, but I fear she’ll meet the same disappointment.”
“If I could get a wheelchair, I would finally have the chance to walk again, to help her and seek food for us both,” he said, a flicker of hope shining through his despair. “But I feel like a burden to her; she carries me, and I can see the toll it takes on her aging body. It’s devastating to witness her fight for both our lives.”
“My home is falling apart; it leaks in several places, and I worry about the conditions we live in. I can’t see well out of one eye, which adds to my frustration. Each day is a battle, but I cling to hope—hope that maybe, just maybe, things can change for the