Tribute to Sindiswa

I asked Sindiswa to help me look after Sarah-Hope from the beginning of the year as I was not sure how I would cope on my own with a newborn as well as Sarah-Hope who was having regular blood tests, platelet transfusions and therapy etc. Less than five months later she was killed in the most tragic circumstances. Here is our tribute to her:

I met Sindiswa, as my sister-in-Christ and fellow member of Jubilee Community Church, just over 6 years ago. Shortly thereafter she began helping me at home. She was a woman of excellence who did her best at whatever she put her hand to and so she quickly gained a good reputation and was employed by other friends and church members before taking some time off to have her son Lukha and raise him.

We stayed in touch and a few months after my daughter Sarah-Hope’s birth she told me she had a dream and saw her son Lukha and Sarah-Hope playing and having such fun. She told me that Richard and I must enjoy our daughter as she was a gift from God. How right she was.

In January this year Sindiswa began working for us fulltime. With another baby coming, I was looking for someone who could help me with Sarah-Hope, my one year old with special needs. I told my sister that I knew someone at church who I thought would be the right person. She asked me if I had made this judgement by seeing Sindiswa interact with Sarah-Hope… I said “no, I haven’t seen them interact, but I just know that Sindiswa is the right person”. There was no doubt  in my mind.

I loved working with Sindiswa - we basically spent 7 hours a day together looking after my girls. I discussed every aspect of Sarah-Hope’s development with her, and asked her many questions given that she was an established mother. She showed genuine interest and gave amazing attention to detail in her work such that our contributions to Sarah-Hope’s care were seamless. I had full confidence in her.

Here are some pictures of Sindiswa involved in Sarah-Hope’s therapy:

Sindiswa trying to convince Sarah-Hope to touch the grass with her feet

Sindiswa trying to get Sarah-Hope onto her knees

Sindiswa made an impression on so many friends and family who visited – and the community where we live. In fact, the Chairperson of the Body Corporate came to tell me what an amazing job she was doing when I wasn’t around.

Sindiswa and Sarah-Hope’s favourite thing to do was to go to the park adjacent to our complex. Sindiswa would amuse me with all the stories of what happened in the park that day, what Sarah-Hope had enjoyed doing and how people had interacted with her.  Sindiswa, a woman of dignity, had an incredible way of integrating Sarah-Hope with the other children in the community.

Sindiswa and I were born in the same month, the same year, in the same country, yet we have had such different lives – hers far more difficult than my own. What strikes me the most about Sindiswa was that despite her challenges, she had a gentle and beautiful spirit.

Sindiswa made a lasting impression on my daughter, my family and community. We all miss you, my friend.