ONE YEAR ON

My late daughter, Dorothy would have turned seven today and almost a year has passed without my beautiful angel. She passed away last year just two weeks after we celebrated her sixth birthday. Normally we used to go out as a family for lunch on the kids' birthdays. She used to enjoy these outings a lot. However on her sixth birthday she insisted we organize a party at home so she could celebrate with her friends. Little did we know she was to pass away two weeks thereafter.

It has been a very painful experience for me and the family, we were the best of friends. We used to giggle alot and whenever I was home she would follow me like "Twitter". We used to sit together on the dinner table, we walked together to school and I had to promise to pick her up after knock-off. When she was young she would refuse to be bathed by her mom or the maid whenever I was home. Each time I was back from work (Mangochi) she would look forward to me going back to work so she could have some more chocolate on my next weekly leave. Whenever daddie picked up his tools to fix something she would also pick the tools that caught her curiosity and ask me what tool it was and its use, as such we used to fix the bike, TV and even elect the tent together. I really miss the nursery rhymes she used to sing for us at home and the stories she used to tell especially in front of the camera. Her favourite cartoon was Winnie The Poo, she knew all the episodes and would do some commentary as we watched the toon movie together.

It is not that easy for me to update this blog, so on her seventh birthday I have decided to share just a few of the moments we shared together and the papers she left us. Since her passing life has not been easy but God has been with us all through. The support I have been receiving from my wife, relatives and friends has been quite helpful.

This photo was taken when she came to Mangochi with her mom to see me. We really enjoyed this moment, had lots of roasted fish with her and her mom. My neighbours thought my family had come to stay in Mangochi forever.

The second photo I just picked from one of the many that I keep on my portable harddrive. This is when she was still young, I do not remember the occasion.

This is her kindergarten graduation certificate. I remember taking some photos on her graduation day but I cant find them on my computer. I must have lost them when my it crashed.

She brought this home from school maybe a month before she passed away. She was so excited about it and told me to stick it up the wall on the living room. I took it down the day she died.

One of her kindergarten progress reports. A little genius she was, her role model was her cousin Miso who is studying law at Chancellor college. I remember when my cousin Aubrey, who is studying accountancy at the Polytechnic came to stay with us, he gave her some maths exercises to work on and she would say "I will also go to university". In standard one and two she was always on top three.

Hope you can pick out the steps leading to the house, the bedroom, toilet,and the car in the garage.

May her innocent soul rest in peace.

SPECIAL THANKS

My gratitude goes to the moderator of Thundu CCAP church-Bangwe, the moderator of Koche CCAP churh-Mangochi, management and staff of Maldeco Fisheries, management and staff of Access Communications, Mr Chitekwe of Arthur Garden clinic at Bangwe/Mgomanjila, staff of St Joseph's mission hospital at Nguludi, staff of College of Medicine, Blantyre city assembly, all relatives, all friends and all those who came to share our grief and assisted in cash and kind.

No words can express my family's gratitude. Your names too many to mention,may the good lord bless you abundantly.

INTRODUCTION

My daughter, Dorothy Msuku R.I.P. born on 22nd November,2004 passed away on the 5th of December,2010 at St Joseph Mission hospital in Chiradzulu. She was diagnosed with rabbies after having been bitten by a rabid puppy we had just bought in October, 2010. She was laid to rest on the 7th of December,2010 at Misesa city cemetery, Limbe.

I decided to write this blog as a way of remembering her and sharing the few six years she made my family happy.

Memorial prayers will be held at our home in Bangwe on the 5th of March, 2011 marking exactly three months since her passing.

MAY HER INNOCENT SOUL REST IN PEACE.