Elaine TENDA Katumba

Elaine was called Double trouble by the nurses on the hospital wards and to be honest, she was
trouble especially when you crossed her line and she never passed unnoticed. she enjoyed playing
games with nurses, doctors and cheering up other sick children in the hospital. This made Elaine vey
popular in every hospital she visited, staffs would call on her if a sick child is scared of putting
a feeding tube down her nose and, Elaine would tell the child how easy it is and that it was not
painful, you just feel a bit uncomfortable though,she confessed to me that it was a bit painful and
she were only saying it for the children'sake. She always wanted things her way no other way. Elaine
was the controlling type and little miss bossy. She loved pink and purpple colours, dancing to
Jamelia number; DJ give me a bit more and Beyonce's music. She was a best friend of dolphins whom
she said were very friendly and loving animals and she was scared of sharks.

Elaine was not only double trouble, but also a very talented, sweet, loving, caring, intelligent and
a very brave little girl who a lot of people thought she had lived past her years. Elaine was always
smiling, cheerful, loving and full of strength. At 3years, Elaine was diagnosed with childhood
cancer of the kidney (Wilm's tumur). I was really scared and worried that l was going to lose her
and, l will never forget that moment. Fortunately, Elaine battled this cancer with strong doses of
chemotherapy, radiotherapy and endless visits in the theatre. At 5years, we were given the all
clear, we were on cloud nine, little did we know the worst was about to happen, as one Pastor
said... "when it comes to cancer, it is always around." And surely it was just around somewhere not
very far and finally it cought up with us.

Despite her illness, Elaine lived a very normal life like any child of her age. She enjoyed playing
rough games like tom boy and loved swimming so much though, there was no chance for that as her body
was inserted with tubes and swimming would cause more infections than what she had. The two schools
she attended, she was held so special and loved by all the pupils and the teachers. In a way, she
hated it as all the time her fellow pupils wanted to help her thinking she wouldn't be able to do
it. She also enjoyed helping mummy at home with domestic chores like making her bed, ironing,
washing up, tidying the house and doing the very naughtiest things given a chance.

At 6years, Elaine was diagnosed with Leukaemia (AML) cancer of the blood. Despite Elaine's strength
and her much love for life, she couldn't fight anymore!!! She felt something she could not put in
words a sense of helplessness or weakness.. as one day she said to me " mum have you ever felt the
way i feel?"l asked her how and she demostrated with little words... "you know how you feel like you
are tired, and you don't want to sleep but you have to because you are exhousted?" "That is how l
feel." That was an indicator that her body was each passing day getting weaker and weaker a thing
she termed "my body is failing me."

She felt it in her body and she told me she can not carry on any more like the way she felt!!! She
said l needed a life not going from one hospital to another and l was pregnant with her baby sister.
We all cried that day and she told me not to worry because all of us were going to die at one point.
Actually she thought it was her fault for us to be going through what we were going through that
time. l assured her it wasn't and l promised to be there for her any time all the time. She said
all she wanted was to see her baby sister, who was still in my tummy by then, and came during
Elaine's hardest times in her life. But, that did not stop Elaine from sharing with her baby sister
what she wished to share most with every one around her, "PASSION," they grew fond of each other
despite the hard times Elaine was going through.

But, even before her baby sister was born, Elaine had told me to name the baby Rianne after her best
teacher, Ria who was her best friend and whom she called "my other mum" and Ria's mum Yvonne. She
thought the way things where going, she won't live any longer to see her baby sister. Thank God,
she saw her, played with her, dressed her and bathed her whenever she could. Elaine got so tired of
the treatment and staying in the hospital that all she said to me was... "mom my body is failing me,
it cannot take this anymore, am not gonna get any better, this is not me at all, l want to sleep,
please let me go mummy."

Elaine went to sleep on the 5th of May 2006 at 9.53 am. She was only 7years and 12days old and her
little sister was 7months. Her absence, has never meant so to my family, we always feel her presence
everywhere, although Rianne is not yet the talking age, but from her curiosity, l strongly believe
that there are lots of questions l will never find answers, they had became fond of each other.

I miss Elaine every day of my life am just waiting and longing and looking forward to Rianne to
grow up, and tell her what a wonderful sister you were and still is. Though gone away from me, she
is still my loving little daughter!!! ELAINE, you touched so many lives and you are missed
desperately by us all. Elaine, we will never forget you and we will always treasure the short time
we were able to spend with you. You brought so much joy and love in my life and l am so proud of
you. Each day that goes by you are always in my heart never will l ever forget you. Miss your
charming smile, the hugs and kisses, hear you call mummy and your endless love. May your Soul Rest
in Eternal peace!!

Much love always,
Your heartbroken Mummy Christine, Daddy Tom and sisters, Rianne and baby Selena who never got a
chance to share your passion.