It was in the year 2013 when my mother, Marilyn Letticia Austina Cole, started experiencing some concerning issues with her breast. Little did we know that this was the beginning of a heart-wrenching journey that would forever change our lives?
As the sole breadwinner for our family, which included her elderly mother and siblings, my mother's health was of utmost importance. However, the healthcare system in Freetown, where we lived, was woefully inadequate. Despite her efforts, no hospital in the city was able to detect the lump in her breast at an early stage.
It wasn't until 2014, when her breast started discharging a foul-smelling liquid, that a doctor named Dr. Bioma suggested operating on her right breast. The surgery was successful, and my mother was able to return home and resume her normal life. But this respite was short-lived.
In the following months, my mother started experiencing severe complications. Despite seeking medical attention at various hospitals, the doctors were unable to determine the root cause of her worsening condition. Frustrated and desperate, my mother and our family turned to traditional healers and "black magic" practitioners, believing that her ailment was not of natural origin.
As the only surviving son, I watched helplessly as my mother's health deteriorated. But I refused to give up. Driven by a determination to save her life, I turned to the one resource I had at my disposal – the internet. I spent countless hours scouring research papers and articles, desperate to uncover the truth about my mother's condition.
To my horror, I discovered that the symptoms she was experiencing were consistent with the advanced stages of cancer. My research, coupled with the confirmation from an online friend, led me to seek out a doctor at the Choithram Hospital in Freetown. Together, we reviewed the findings and concluded that my mother was indeed suffering from a severe form of cancer.
By this time, the left breast had become as hard as stone, and the wounds were reopening. Her right hand was dislocated, her face had swollen to an unnatural size, and her mouth was so swollen that she could no longer lie down. For over six months, she was forced to sit on a particular chair, unable to find comfort or relief.
My research had proven that after the initial breast removal, she should have undergone chemotherapy treatment, preferably in a country with better healthcare facilities. But she had never been informed of this crucial step.
When the final scan results came in, the doctor called me with the devastating news. He told me that my mother could not make it, and that if she lived, it would not be more than two weeks. True to his word, we lost her on June 2nd, 2015, at the age of 48.
The pain of watching my mother suffer and die from a disease that could have been better managed had the healthcare system been more equipped has left an indelible mark on my heart. But her loss has also fueled my determination to continue the fight against cancer and other critical health conditions, to ensure that no one else has to endure the same heartbreak that my family and I experienced.
Marilyn Letticia Austina Cole, my beloved mother, may your memory live on, and may your story inspire others to demand better healthcare and support for those battling the devastating effects of cancer.
