Rest in Peace Baby Lawrence

Today we brought Baby Lawrence to his last resting place in the village. He died at 1 am this morning.

Baby Lawrence was a pre-mature baby when he was brought to us on June 23. His mother had passed away after the Cesarean operation. It was a small baby, who at first, didn't want to drink, we fed him by NG tube. But after some time he was doing better, he could drink from the bottle and he was gaining slowly. He was not sickly. On Tuesday evening he was having problem with breathing and he had a beginning pneumonia. Janneke, our nurse, started him on IV medication and on Wednesday morning she took him to the doctor. He was put on some more medication. Because of his problems in breathing he was put on the oxygen in the evening. On Thursday morning he had a real attack, sever problems in breathing, was given medication, nebulisers and the doctor came to see him. Janneke had done everything right we just had to observe and Pray, he said! We did that both, the whole day and he was getting a bit stable, until 3 pm, another sever attack in breathing, he cried and we couldn't do anything to get him stable and comfortable. We prayed together for him and he stopped crying!! He fell asleep, still severe problems in breathing....

 I took this picture at around 6 pm, knowing that I would not see him alive anymore. I went home and Janneke took over (it had been her free day). I got a phone call from Janneke at 1 am, Lawrence had passed away in his sleep.

In the morning, Simon went to get a coffin made and after that Emmanuel carried the coffin in our car and we left to bring him back to his family. When we arrived there, a bed was carried out of the hut and the little coffin was placed on it. people gathered to mourn together. We had informed them by mobile phone what has happened. This afternoon he will be buried, next to his mother...

We drove back to Soroti, still a bit shocked, it had all happened too fast. We know we had done everything we could, but still....

Dear Lawrence, your life has been too short, not even 12 weeks old, but we know that you are safe now!