“Sweetheart, come back to us quickly,” whispers Sister Mariola in Christabel’s ear. She hugs her close and makes the sign of the cross on her forehead. The four-month-old’s frail body is entwined with IV tubing and nasal cannulae to administer oxygen. Dr Sahar tries to poke into a vein to administer medication. We are all silent. The only sound comes from the oxygen generator wheezing steadily and the pulse oximeter beeping. The little one does not protest. She has no strength. The girl’s illness has given us another battle for her life today.
Christabel is just on her way to hospital. Dr Sahar is by her side all the time. She has been given everything we could give her at this moment. Oxygen, medicines, drips, an ambulance, the possibility of three nurses who are on duty 24 hours a day in shifts – these facilities are necessary in an emergency. We have it thanks to you.
It was supposed to be good. Christabel responded adequately to the chemo, came home, sucked her bottle eagerly. Today a crisis suddenly came.
Kasisi is not only about smiles, joy and fun. Kasisi is a family and, as in any family, good moments alternate with difficult ones. We said goodbye to Divine; we could not save him. His heart proved too weak to bear the burden of his illness. Now we are fighting for Christabel and we need you to be very close to her and all of Kasisi today.
Whoever can, let us pray. Whoever can, let them think well of her and cheer for her and the doctors in these moments. If you would like to help, please shop in the Emergency Department on our website and help us very concretely by funding a day of hospitalisation for the little one or even a symbolic bunch of vitamins.
A school kit includes notebooks, allowing children to study at home. It also includes a pair of shoes, which, if not for Kasisi, they would have to borrow from their siblings. And finally, a delicious, healthy sandwich in the backpack, which gives them the energy they need for their studies. Just like the sandwich their mother would prepare. You can pack one into their backpack today—from right here, from your own home.