- A Mombasa mother is having a bittersweet moment as she celebrates her daughter's pre-school graduation
- Faith Mbaria disclosed that the milestone stirred deep grief over her late husband, who died in November last year
- Sam died suddenly on his own birthday after collapsing on the way to hospital, leaving Faith to raise their children alone
A Kenyan mother has celebrated her daughter's graduation and upcoming transition to Grade 1, but the milestone has reopened painful memories of her husband.
Source: Facebook
In an exclusive interview with TUKO.co.ke, she disclosed that her husband, Sam, died suddenly on his birthday last year.
Faith Mbaria shared an emotional tribute to her late husband, expressing joy at how far their little girl had come while wishing he were alive to witness the achievement.
In a heartfelt Facebook post, Faith revealed that she wished she could call Sam and tell him their daughter had graduated, imagining the pride and happiness he would have felt.
“Today, I wish heaven had a phone I could call… because, Sam, our baby has made it!” she wrote.
The milestone was particularly emotional because Faith remembered the difficult COVID-19 period when they welcomed their daughter.
She recalled how Sam stood by her, cared for her and helped look after their baby during those uncertain days.
Their daughter was still tiny then, but she has since grown and reached another important stage in her education.
For Faith, however, the celebration was accompanied by the painful realisation that the man with whom she had shared those early parenting days was no longer there to celebrate their daughter's progress.
“I wish I could call you and say, ‘Sam, look at our daughter. She has made it!’” she wrote.
How Faith Mbaria's husband died
Faith said she wished she could hear his voice, share the good news with him and see the smile that would have spread across his face as he watched their daughter prepare for Grade 1.
She also expressed the pain of being unable to visit his resting place to share the family's latest milestones, noting that she had so much to tell him about their children.
The daughter's graduation also brought memories of the sudden circumstances surrounding Sam's death on November 9 last year.
According to Faith's account, Sam was not sick and had woken up feeling well on the Sunday that marked his birthday.
He even called his wife and daughters to sing him a birthday song, with the family having no reason to suspect that the day would end in tragedy.
However, around 7 am to 8 am, Sam began complaining of sharp pain. Faith suggested that they seek medical attention, and the couple travelled to a hospital on a motorcycle.
After examining the situation, the doctor recommended that Sam be admitted for further assessment and arranged for him to be transferred to a larger hospital.
The journey took a devastating turn when Sam told Faith that the pain had become unbearable.
Faith recalled that the owner of the hospital heard their distress and volunteered to transport them in his car.
They eventually arrived at the hospital, but before they could enter, Sam collapsed. He died that day, turning what had begun as a birthday celebration into a devastating loss for his family.
A postmortem examination conducted the following day established that a blood clot had blocked his lungs, leaving him unable to breathe, according to Faith's account.
Earlier that morning, they had been singing for him on his birthday; hours later, Faith was confronting life without her husband.
A mother's joy mixed with grief
As she celebrated her daughter's achievement, Faith reflected on the difficult reality of raising children while grieving the person she had expected to share their lives with.
She noted that people might see a child graduating and focus on the achievement without realising the sadness a mother could be carrying behind her smile.
For her, the milestone was a reminder that life continues after the death of a loved one. Children grow, reach new stages and create memories, even as the person who should be celebrating beside them remains absent.
“Sometimes, the hardest part of losing someone is having beautiful news and nowhere to take it,” she wrote.
Faith said she remained proud of her daughter and was determined to continue doing her best for her and her sister, even when being strong felt painful.
She also remembered how she and Sam had navigated the uncertainties of the COVID-19 period together, never imagining that she would one day watch their baby grow without him.
“If heaven could open for just one minute, I wouldn't ask for anything big. I would simply run to you, hold you, and say, ‘Sam, look at our daughter. See how far she has come. We are raising our babies, my love. I wish you were here,’” she wrote.
Although the graduation was a moment worth celebrating, Faith's tribute showed that some milestones carry the weight of the people who are no longer around to witness them.
“Our baby is growing, Sam. I hope, somehow, you know,” she wrote, signing off with a promise to continue caring for their children and a message of enduring love for her late husband.
Source: TUKO.co.ke