At different points throughout everyday I think about #sierraleone. Last night it was a dream, I was here again, at the burial of a new friend’s 5 year old son. (The father is in red plaid) ====== The boy suffered an “episode” in the night and never recovered, most certainly an undiagnosed and untreated condition that he had had since birth. I visited the family home to express my condolences. It was a Muslim home that I had never visited before but I was quickly ushered in. The mother came running towards me and gave me a crushing hug (we had never met before but I had hired her husband the day before). My face covered in tears I showed her a picture of my four children having a friend translate to her that I was crushed by her loss, having children the same age. She buried her face in my chest and sobbed. She was pulled away after a few moments and the father shock my hand but didn’t let go, he just shoot there staring at me holding my hand tight. He whispered “thank you” and walked me back outside as the funeral began. ====== The family insisted I stay for the funeral, even clearing a space in front for me and the @letthemlol employees I was with. It was a extremely simple and quick ceremony and the boy was laid in a shallow grave directly behind the home. No casket, no flowers, no marker. Just the Imam carrying the boy and laying him in the earth. ====== Of all my trips this was a very special and tragically common moment in village life for me to experience and is with me almost constantly. This is why we fight the fight. If the fight is to be lost I vow to go down swinging. ====== #sierraleone #salone #cleanwater #godownswinging #letthemlol #ltlol #nonprofit #ngo
