Photo: Michael Mapenzi at Our Lady’s Hospice in Lusaka, Zambia
In honour of World AIDS Day tomorrow, Saturday 1 December, we wish to share a chapter from the ICPCN publication Touching Rainbows: Acknowledging the Child’s Voice in Palliative Care* written by Michael Mapenzi, an adolescent with AIDS cared for at Our Lady’s Hospice in Lusaka, Zambia back in 2010. The story may be old but hospices, particularly in African countries, still play a vital role in the care and support of children, adolescents and young adults with AIDS.
This is Michael’s story.
Hello, my name is Michael Mapenzi. I am 15 years old and am from the Kalingalinga compound in Lusaka, Zambia. I am the fourth born child of six children in my family. I started to become ill in 2009 when I developed a sore on my left leg. Over time, the sore worsened and my leg became very swollen. I also began to develop many itchy blisters surrounding the initial sore. Eventually, I had to leave school and was taken to the hospital, where doctors discovered that I was HIV positive and that I had a type of skin cancer called Kaposi’s sarcoma.
In May of 2010, my priest took me to Our Lady’s Hospice in Lusaka so that I could receive medicine for my illnesses. Unfortunately, doctors told me that both my HIV and Kaposi’s sarcoma are at an advanced stage and can no longer be cured, but I am on second line antiretroviral treatments and am undergoing chemotherapy so that I can try to get better.
Before I was admitted to the hospice, I used to get sick very often – I would usually get malaria or the flu. However, since I have been living at the hospice I have been feeling better. My nurse, Sobe, gives me medicine, washes and cleans my leg, and makes sure that I am feeling OK. Additionally, I receive morphine five times a day to help me deal with the pain in my leg. Because of the care that I receive at the hospice, I do not have much pain anymore, and now only my leg gives me problems, but the problems are not as bad as they were before. My leg is no longer in very much pain, it only itches.
At the hospice, I like to watch television and ride around in my wheelchair. But my favourite part about living there is the food! It is delicious and I get to eat a lot. However, there are times when I am bored. I hope that we will soon receive some video games or books to write in so that I may have new things to do while I am here.
“Every night before I go to bed, I pray that one day I can get back on my feet and be healthy.”
Michael drew this picture of his village while being cared for in the hospice
Although I like living at the hospice, I miss my old life very much. Before I became ill, my favourite activities were playing football with my friends and hunting for birds. I also used to love to cook for my younger siblings after school, and hang out with my older sister and little brothers. Unfortunately, since I have begun living at the hospice, I do not get to see my friends very much anymore. I miss them a lot. I sometimes ask the hospice matron to take me home to see my friends and my grandmother, but the matron says that she does not have transport money to do so. However, my friends do sometimes come to the hospice to bring me food, but this is the only time I get to see them. Every night before I go to bed, I pray that one day I can get back on my feet and be healthy.
Despite the challenges of living at the hospice, I am happy to be here. I have accepted that there is nothing I can do about my situation, so at least I am glad that I live at the hospice where I have access to medicine, and people are around to look after me. Also, at least my family gets to visit me every day, and they tell me that it is nice for them to see that I am no longer in much pain.
We were thrilled that Michael was given a copy of the book and got to see his story in print before he sadly passed away in 2011.
About World AIDS Day
World AIDS Day is an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, to show support for people living with HIV, and to commemorate those who have died from an AIDS-related illness. Founded in 1988, World AIDS Day was the first ever global health day. Globally, there are an estimated 36.7 million people who have the virus. Of these, 1.8 million are children (<15 years old). An estimated 1.8 million individuals worldwide became newly infected with HIV in 2017 – about 5,000 new infections per day. World AIDS Day is an opportunity to show solidarity with the millions of people living with HIV worldwide. Most people do this by wearing an HIV awareness red ribbon on the day. Find out more at www.worldaidsday.org
You can also download a copy of the ICPCN Position Paper on Palliative Care and Children Living with HIV and AIDS
*About Touching Rainbows
Through the book, ‘Touching Rainbows: Acknowledging the Child’s Voice in Palliative Care’ we have the privilege of hearing the voices of some of the many children whose lives, and those of their families, have been affected by life-threatening conditions. The children tell their stories with honesty and openness, through stories, poems and pictures. Children and their families from across the world share their experiences, either from the child themselves or from those who love them, such as their parents or brother and sister.
The stories, often told in the child’s own language and translated into English, are an inspiration to us all. It is hoped they will touch and enrich the lives of many, encourage those travelling a similar path, and instill a sense of courage and joy, despite the many challenges and heartaches. You can order your own a copy of the book here.
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