Taking Leave: SYNOPSIS of Book
The experience related in this book shares the agony of a family's journey through the trials of AIDS and death. The episode crossed the continents of Africa, Europe, North and South America, and tells the tales of a family's struggles with this devastating illness. It has affected families the world over and continues to wreak havoc to this day.
The disease which has claimed millions of lives since its effects have been felt, is by no way out of our lives.
Death is unceasing; grief lingers.
As I crossed paths with Sakile in the Southwestern town of Soweto, I grieved with her family. The lingering effects of her death still haunts the neighborhood. Her mother, Pumla remains grief stricken. We, her, immediate family, friends and well-wishers, can only dare to share the unending pain.
Sakile loved life and wanted to share that love desperately. She embraced the goodness in us and for that ounce of naiveté, she paid the ultimate price – of death. Her stay in North America was fleeting, and as such, she was unable to fulfill her "American Dream." Fear not, for this may be the only tear that is shed for our dear Sakile. In other words, her death has brought us closer to life – the breathing element in our existence. Now let us embrace the light which she shone, with the hope that it will brighten the remaining days of those who suffer most. While the future looks overwhelmingly bleak for African-Americans, especially young women, I hope that my message will serve to resonate among this population, and eventually stem the tide of prevalence.
And like Marianne, as she related in her book, "Her Own Flesh and Blood," "she loses her husband two children to AIDS and, discovering that she is also infected with HIV and on the verge of death, must remake her life."
This harrowing account of lives torn apart in grief and pain is the substance in my message.
Here, Justin Heckert, who recited that he "stepped away from the story several times," relates this thrilling account of "a modern day story about AIDS." "She, Marianne, isn't dead; she survived. She is a remarkable, living woman. This is a sad story, but is it really a story about death? People don't really die of AIDS anymore. You know? They don't. We have to be truthful here. The truth is that she has a very good life right now. In her job, she counsels people, newly infected HIV patients who have no idea about the severity of this thing. She comes home from that job and takes these pills and she has this entirely new life, but reminders of her old life." (Excerpt: "Her Own Flesh and Blood." July 1, 2011. Justin Heckert) TAGS: HIVAIDS
Unlike Pumhla, in our case, who remains grief-stricken, there is much left in her life. For, in life there is hope; in death, solemnity. I have, in my own simple way tried to offer as much resources as possible, so that other families with this experience may gather some solace to their contentment.
It this possible, or even if I'm able to console one "family", I will have done the job I set out to do.
With grace.
Humbly,
Charles
