Meseret's Story - In her own words
I was born into this world unwanted. My mother had not planned for me, and many attempts were made to prevent my birth. My father even gave her medication to abort me. But by God's grace, I survived.
My brother and I grew up in hardship. My mother worked in the market to support us, while my father - after giving her a disease (HIV/AIDS) - abandoned us. Our illegal home was demolished. We often went hungry and had very little to eat. We went to the Orthodox church mainly because food was sometimes given there. We wore discarded clothes.
My mother soon became seriously sick. Misdiagnosed at the hospital, she was given medication that left her partially deaf. Our mother lay bedridden for a long time, her hand bent and shaking, her leg stiff, her speech slurred. She could not walk or care for herself. One Sunday, while we were away at the church and she was home alone, she tried to end her life in despair. When it failed, she wept and cried to God for healing. And God answered.
Though rejected by family and neighbors, God brought us to Dr. Frew. At first the clinic staff refused to treat her, not wanting responsibility if she died in their care. But Dr. Frew, when he saw her leaving the clinic showed compassion, treated her with love and kindness, and gave her treatment at our home. Soon, she was moving her arms and legs and she was walking again! Dr. Frew often said, "I had not planned to come to the clinic that day. God sent me." Truly, he was sent by God, and through him hope returned to our family.
Later, Dr. Frew asked if we were in school. My mother said no - the local schools taught in Oromifa, which we didn't speak, and she could not afford private ones. "I will pay," he said. And so, we were enrolled. Soon, people in Sendafa Beke noticed us. They said, "Look at Demeku's children!" because we excelled in school, even above the children of the wealthy families. Later, we were admitted to a renowned school in Sendafa. I still remember when Dr. Frew told me I must score at least 98 on the national exam. I scored 97.4 - ashamed to show him, though my mother proudly did.
Because of all this I now have dreams and goals. Now I dream of making my mother stand tall before those who once despised her. I want to become an excellent doctor, serve my country, contribute to research, and one day start an NGO to give others the hope I was given. I want to be a doctor like Dr. Frew.
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| Demeku's shop at the market | Meseret's new computer at the university |
YeNoh Merkeb, Dr. Frew's organization, made this possible. They restored my mother, sent us to school, and gave us hope. As for tomorrow - God knows. He brought us this far, and He will take us where we need to be.
Thanks be to God. Thank you very much.
Meseret
