News / National
Woman (18) succumbs to 13-year battle with squamous cell carcinoma
14 Aug 2011 at 05:26hrs | Views
A young Zimbabwean woman, Memory Chibakuri (18) just lost her 13-year battle with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Memory was diagnosed with SCC when she was five years old.
SCC is caused by prolonged exposure to ultraviolet radiation from sunlight or tanning beds and destroys healthy tissues around the tumour.
Experts say it can be eradicated if detected and treated early. However, prospects of defeating it looked dim from the outset, as Memory's late father denied her treatment by keeping her captive for a decade, ostensibly to "save himself embarrassment".
Her battle was two-pronged: fighting inhumanity as well as the disease that gnawed at her body.
Her father's passing marked the painful fall of the first wall. With assistance from well-wishers, she began to show visible signs of life.
But the nemesis that her condition had grown to be stood firm, eventually plunging her to her darkest hour on August 7.
"What hurts me the most is that doctors said her condition was easily curable had she been attended to on time," said Mrs Chibakuri, with tears welling in her eyes.
"My brother kept her locked up, saying he was embarrassed by the little girl's condition.
"I had to sneak into her room whenever I went to see her because her father would not let anyone enter her room.
"He would snarl at me whenever I asked him whether he had taken her for treatment."
Memory's condition worsened during her last days. The deep cancerous wound in her throat, caused by the ravages of her condition, made it difficult for her to eat.
"She could not take in any solid food during her last few months because of the deep wound.
"Her diet ended up strictly being water and milk. The challenge always remained getting the food into her stomach as most of the milk or water ended up flowing out through the wound.
"I believe inadequate food was the eventual cause of her death. She continued to lose strength.
"What made it all the more difficult is that we only had liquid paraffin and methane to clean the wound.
"We could not afford this luxury all the time; sometimes we resorted to using water."
Memory could hardly see, talk or walk. Relieving herself was also an immense challenge.
She wore diapers and remained bedridden for the better part of her latter years.
To make matters worse, she slept on a plain reed mat with only one tattered blanket as cover.
After The Sunday Mail featured her story, several well-wishers offered assistance.
They raised US$1 500 for her to undergo medical tests.
Last week, she was taken to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in Harare and was later transferred to the Avenues Clinic where her condition subsequently deteriorated.
She seemed to be fighting hard. Sadly, she lost.
Scenes at the funeral wake were heart-rending.
The melancholy and emotion were palpable.
The scarcely furnished house told a story of abject poverty.
A rickety dining-room suite, which had evidently, seen better days, stood on one side of what appeared to be the main bedroom while a dilapidated bed and an equally rundown wardrobe were strategically positioned away from the doorway to provide easy passage into the room.
This is where Memory breathed her last. One could almost sense her presence, as she fought for the most precious of possessions ' life.
All that remains are memories of the 18-year-old.
Those who knew her marvelled at her tenacity and sheer urge to live.
They recounted her quick wit, humour and hearty laughter.
Never one to lose hope, she dreamt of recovering and one day attending school with peers.
"She was a very joyous person who would crack jokes all day long as long as she was not under the weather," said Mr Tafadzwa Mhembere, an uncle.
"She used to pester her aunt, insisting she wanted to go to school once she recovered."
Touched by the article on Memory, the Benevolent Club at Waddilove High School spent the better part of last term pooling their pocket allowances in order to lend a helping hand.
The pupils, who specialise in philanthropic work, bought a bed, blankets and foodstuffs and intended to donate them on Sunday last week.
They were, however, stunned when they received news of her death that very morning, forcing them to scurry around to sell the bed in order to raise money to buy food for the mourners.
"We had pooled our pocket money so that we could assist Memory, but we received the sad news of her death early this morning," said Charlotte Kachere, an Upper Sixth student at the school and member of the club.
"We have been forced to change the plan and assist at the funeral instead. It was such a sad life that Memory led, and to die at such a young age makes the grief unbearable.
SCC is caused by prolonged exposure to ultraviolet radiation from sunlight or tanning beds and destroys healthy tissues around the tumour.
Experts say it can be eradicated if detected and treated early. However, prospects of defeating it looked dim from the outset, as Memory's late father denied her treatment by keeping her captive for a decade, ostensibly to "save himself embarrassment".
Her battle was two-pronged: fighting inhumanity as well as the disease that gnawed at her body.
Her father's passing marked the painful fall of the first wall. With assistance from well-wishers, she began to show visible signs of life.
But the nemesis that her condition had grown to be stood firm, eventually plunging her to her darkest hour on August 7.
"What hurts me the most is that doctors said her condition was easily curable had she been attended to on time," said Mrs Chibakuri, with tears welling in her eyes.
"My brother kept her locked up, saying he was embarrassed by the little girl's condition.
"I had to sneak into her room whenever I went to see her because her father would not let anyone enter her room.
"He would snarl at me whenever I asked him whether he had taken her for treatment."
Memory's condition worsened during her last days. The deep cancerous wound in her throat, caused by the ravages of her condition, made it difficult for her to eat.
"She could not take in any solid food during her last few months because of the deep wound.
"Her diet ended up strictly being water and milk. The challenge always remained getting the food into her stomach as most of the milk or water ended up flowing out through the wound.
"I believe inadequate food was the eventual cause of her death. She continued to lose strength.
"What made it all the more difficult is that we only had liquid paraffin and methane to clean the wound.
Memory could hardly see, talk or walk. Relieving herself was also an immense challenge.
She wore diapers and remained bedridden for the better part of her latter years.
To make matters worse, she slept on a plain reed mat with only one tattered blanket as cover.
After The Sunday Mail featured her story, several well-wishers offered assistance.
They raised US$1 500 for her to undergo medical tests.
Last week, she was taken to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in Harare and was later transferred to the Avenues Clinic where her condition subsequently deteriorated.
She seemed to be fighting hard. Sadly, she lost.
Scenes at the funeral wake were heart-rending.
The melancholy and emotion were palpable.
The scarcely furnished house told a story of abject poverty.
A rickety dining-room suite, which had evidently, seen better days, stood on one side of what appeared to be the main bedroom while a dilapidated bed and an equally rundown wardrobe were strategically positioned away from the doorway to provide easy passage into the room.
This is where Memory breathed her last. One could almost sense her presence, as she fought for the most precious of possessions ' life.
All that remains are memories of the 18-year-old.
Those who knew her marvelled at her tenacity and sheer urge to live.
They recounted her quick wit, humour and hearty laughter.
Never one to lose hope, she dreamt of recovering and one day attending school with peers.
"She was a very joyous person who would crack jokes all day long as long as she was not under the weather," said Mr Tafadzwa Mhembere, an uncle.
"She used to pester her aunt, insisting she wanted to go to school once she recovered."
Touched by the article on Memory, the Benevolent Club at Waddilove High School spent the better part of last term pooling their pocket allowances in order to lend a helping hand.
The pupils, who specialise in philanthropic work, bought a bed, blankets and foodstuffs and intended to donate them on Sunday last week.
They were, however, stunned when they received news of her death that very morning, forcing them to scurry around to sell the bed in order to raise money to buy food for the mourners.
"We had pooled our pocket money so that we could assist Memory, but we received the sad news of her death early this morning," said Charlotte Kachere, an Upper Sixth student at the school and member of the club.
"We have been forced to change the plan and assist at the funeral instead. It was such a sad life that Memory led, and to die at such a young age makes the grief unbearable.
Source - The Sunday Mail
