By Tandara Denisia O’connor
Aminata was a beautiful soul calm,sweet, vibrant, and full of big dreams. She was someone you couldn’t help but love. A young woman with a bright spirit, a mother, a daughter, a sister someone whose family looked up to her with pride and hope.
Two months ago, Aminata contracted the Mpox virus. At first, we were hopeful. We believed she would pull through, that it was just a phase. But what followed was nothing short of heartbreaking.
She was admitted to 34 Military Hospital, where she spent a month a whole month without any noticeable improvement. Every prescription given, her family bought. From basic medications to compression socks that cost over Le 1,700, nothing helped. In fact, the swelling in her feet worsened until they began to ooze.
Tests were done kidney, liver, blood yet we never saw the results. Only more prescriptions. More money. More hope slipping away.
When her condition became critical, she was transferred to Connaught Hospital. By then, the illness had ravaged her body and spirit. She looked me straight in the eyes and said, “I don’t think I’m going to make it. And the people here aren’t making things any easier.”
I was there when one of the staff shouted at her instead of showing compassion. She couldn’t stand, sit, or turn without agonizing pain. Yet, in the midst of her suffering, she was met with harshness when what she truly needed was care and kindness. I stepped in and asked why this was happening, why she was being shouted at. The response? “It’s to help her cooperate.”
They said she needed to let them scrub the wounds massive, flesh-eating sores that covered her body. Imagine that pain. Imagine needing gentleness and getting firmness instead. The man later apologized, saying he meant no harm. Another staff member told us we needed to “cooperate with the cleaners” because they were doing their best.
But we know. We are Sierra Leoneans. We know when something is wrong, when the system is failing us, when compassion has a price tag.
In her final days, another medication was prescribed nearly Le 10,000, after she had already taken over Le 20,000 worth of drugs. Yet nothing helped. She never once woke up feeling better than the day before. It was always worse. Always downhill…..And today… Aminata is gone.
She passed this morning after months of suffering, after endless pain and little peace. She deserved better.
Rest peacefully now, my sweet girl. May the Almighty welcome you with open arms, grant you eternal rest, and may the earth lie gently over you….Amen🙏
