In Memory of E

Yesterday I experienced yet another Kenyan cultural first, although this one was one I wish I could have avoided. I attended my first Kenyan funeral. It was for a patient and a friend.
E was a wonderful Christian woman who I actually met last year when I visited Kapsowar. She and her husband ran a convenience shop just outside of the entrance to the station and I enjoyed many conversations with her when I would go for little things needed at home. She always welcomed me with a smile and often a hug. I soon realized that she and her husband were both wonderful Christian people and it was a joy getting to know them.
Soon after I arrived this time, she came to see me. She had been having some bleeding and pain and had been seen by another doctor without an answer. After evaluating her, we decided she needed a hysterectomy. Although things had looked fairly normal (except for fibroids) pre-op, it was clear when we did her surgery that she had cancer. Her surgery went well and afterwards I sat down with her husband and daughter and explained what I had found at surgery. At the time, I hoped it would be an easily treatable cancer. A few weeks later, we received the pathology report back and it said metastatic cervical cancer. Worse than I thought, but still able to be treated.
We arranged for her to go to Nairobi for radiation treatments. Nairobi is the only place (and only one hospital in Nairobi) where you can get radiation therapy in the entire country of Kenya - a country of approximately 40 million people. People are often put on a waiting list and wait up to a year to begin treatment. Thankfully she was able to start fairly quickly and things seemed to be going well, with a few minor setbacks that are common to radiation/chemotherapy. However, a couple of weeks ago, she became very sick and had to be admitted to the hospital. While she showed a little improvement, on Feb. 9th, she became worse and peacefully went on to be with the Lord.
I was devastated when I heard, although thankful at the same time that she was no longer suffering. My heart ached for her husband, who had loved her for nearly 40 years. She was only 55, so young. She left behind 8 children and 5 grandchildren. My only consolation was that she is now with her Lord and Savior and reunited with so many loved ones.
Her funeral was yesterday. Her family is large and very connected in this community, so the turnout was huge. People came from all over Kenya. The ceremony took place in a field by their house and there were probably 500 people seated everywhere. A funeral is much different here - it lasts several hours (I was forewarned to go late so I wouldn't have to sit for so many hours). Probably 20-30 people got up to give speeches remembering E and her contribution to their lives. Songs were sung. Members of Parliament were even there. There was a viewing - much like at home. Then a sermon was given about how death is not final for those of us that know the Lord. Her casket was then driven up to their home and she was buried in a small plot of land by the home.
As I looked around, I couldn't help but be struck by the differences. It was more of a spectacle here. On the flipside, though, the way they do it here gives so many more people an opportunity to express to her family what she meant to them. What a testament to her life! All you had to do was look around and you could see that she was an amazing woman who touched all that she came into contact with. As I spoke with her husband, you could see the pain in his eyes and my heart broke. At the same time as his pain was evident, though, he said that he knew God was sovereign and that He would get them through this. I praise the Lord that even in the midst of such pain, He brings hope. Please remember E's family in your prayers as they struggle to recover from this loss.