By Tony Karanja
Jambonewspot.com
The Late Rhoda Maina who passed away on December 1st 2009 at the Saint Joseph's Hospital In Atlanta, GA
Rhoda Maina, the young lady who captured the hearts and minds of many Kenyans in the US has passed away at Saint Joseph’s Hospital In Atlanta, GA. Rhonda who was the daughter to Ken and Rachel Maina of Dunwoody, GA rested after waging a brave fight against illness on Tuesday, December 1, 2009 at the age of 26.
Rhoda was suffering from autoimmune diseases known as Lupus/Scleroderma which cause the body to attack itself and can target any organ. According to her childhood and longtime friend, Tanya Ranguma who spoke to Jambonewspot.com from Atlanta, Rhoda passed away peacefully in the early hours of Tuesday. She was surrounded by her family at the time of her passing. Tanya was also at her bedside.
Tanya and Rhoda attended the same primary school (Kianda Primary) and were both at Alliance Girls High School before Rhoda transferred to Makini for Form 3 and 4.
Tanya signalled Rhoda’s last couple of days through a group she created in her support on Facebook called “Friends In Support Of Rhoda Maina”. The group had rapidly gained members who heard about Rhoda’s story and her brave battle with this illness.
On November 30th, she sent out a group email informing members that Rhoda was in critical condition and that doctors has stopped treatment. In her message she wrote that doctors had only given Rhoda hours to live and that Rhoda had asked those who were following her progress to remain strong and that she was ready to go.
On December 1st, Tanya sent out the message announcing her passing and the end of a long journey. Tanya who had flown from Philadelphia to be alongside her friend recalled that Rhoda was in so much pain the night before. The nurses would be called upon to check on Rhoda frequently hours after doctors had given her a few hours to live. “She finally drifted to sleep at around 3 am or 4 am,” Tanya said. She passed away a few hours later at around 7 am.
Friends and well wishers alike jammed the Saint Joseph’s Hospital moments after the news of her death broke. “I was pleasantly surprised by the support shown by the community and how many people her story had touched”, remarked Tanya. “The hospital was packed with people who jumped from their beds upon hearing the tragic news”, she added. The Facebook page dedicated to her was also flooded with messages of condolences as the news of her demise continued to be received.
Rhoda had been receiving treatment at the Immune Recovery Foundation Clinic based in Atlanta, Georgia, where she was getting alternative medicine to stabilize the immune system. In 2008 alone, Rhoda was hospitalized seven times.
Her immune system had been weakened and she required constant attention. According to Tanya, Rhoda kept in constant communications with members of the “Friends In Support Of Rhoda Maina” Facebook page and her spirits were always uplifted by the messages she received from members and other well wishers.
“She was always online communicating with members of the group. Every message she received from members many of whom she did not know, uplifted her spirits and kept her going”, Tanya told jambonewspot. “She was online everyday other than the last two weeks when her condition began to deteriorate”, she added. Tanya said that some of the members Rhoda kept in constant communication with had not received a reply to their messages on Facebook in the final two weeks and had began enquiring frantically about her condition.
Her Family will be accompanying Rhoda back home for the funeral. Tentative arrangements include a funeral service at the All Saints Cathedral on Tuesday, December 15th, 2009 (exact time to be provided) and later on, the funeral will take place in Kiharu, Muranga District. More updates will be posted here as we receive them.
Funeral arrangements are ongoing and family and friends are calling on relatives, friends and people of good will to support them in meeting these expenses. There will be a memorial service for Rhoda and there after a fundraising event at:
Venue: Christ Harvester’s Church Int’l, Marietta, GA
(CHMI – Apostle Karanja’s Church)
Address: 4341 Dallas Hwy, Marietta, GA 30064.
Date: Sunday, December 06, 2009,
Time: 2.00 PM.
(Refreshments will be served)
Family and friends will be meeting daily at the Maina’s home from 6:30pm to 9:00pm. Their address is:
113 Summer Crossing, Atlanta GA 30350.
However, there will be a prayer service today December 2, 2009 and Friday December 4, 2009 at Christ Harvester’s Church from 6:30pm to 9:00pm.
If unable to attend, please make your contribution to:
Ken Maina
Wachovia Bank, Atlanta GA
Account number: 1010258758504
Routing number: 061000227
Or donations can be dropped off at anytime at the Maina’s home.
For more information contact: Michael Karuu (404-395-6906), Leah Kamau (678-576-1416) or Ciru Mwangi (303-931-8381), Ken Maina (678-862-3140).
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