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Teen Mom/ Pregnancy + Social Advocacy
To #KOT, I& #39;m Sheila Ivy Waringa Matiba (Yes, of that Kenneth Matiba family), a 19-year old who has seen her fair share of the drama, madness, anguish, agony and pain that life can throw at you - but still, I& #39;m here. Because, why not?
To #KOT, I& #39;m Sheila Ivy Waringa Matiba (Yes, of that Kenneth Matiba family), a 19-year old who has seen her fair share of the drama, madness, anguish, agony and pain that life can throw at you - but still, I& #39;m here. Because, why not?
My last name may fool you, but last names don& #39;t necessarily cushion you from the vagaries of life. A daughter of a single mother, I& #39;ve seen Mum painstakingly raise me, alone, with the little money she makes hawking along Luthuli Avenue and its environs. And somehow, she managed.
It& #39;s been a hell of a life - I& #39;m an only child and have never met my biological father (a fact I& #39;ve come to live with) and, growing up in the rough trenches of Baba Dogo, you can imagine the strains I& #39;ve been through. Two women, in a single room, figuring out this life thing.
Despite mum& #39;s measly earnings from hawking female mitumba clothing, we& #39;ve never complained even when we lacked the most basic of necessities and because life comes at you hard, somehow, early this year, I fell pregnant. A thing that shocked me at first and still shocks me today.
I then entered into a hell of a season - I battled all manner of thoughts, toyed with the idea of aborting, actually visited a Doc for the procedure - and then changed my mind. My mind was a battlefield. I was too young, too broke and too confused to be a mother. My Mom lost it.
The first months were pure hell - I retreated from all social life, secluded myself in our tiny single room, afraid, angry, confused and anxious. I watched my tummy grow. Felt baby grow. And still, I remained in disbelief. Again, I visited the Doc. But again, I changed my mind.
I dint even experience the pregnancy glow that women talk about...I could barely even eat, the man responsible for it went mute, I lived on hand to mouth, lacked so many necessities. I was all alone in a state that I thought all women needed someone, anyone, for support.
But I was determined to keep this little thing growing in me. I had none of all the pregnancy drama - no baby shower, no photo shoot, no gifts, no girls coming over, nothing. But I was past abortion thoughts. It was now me against the world. And I promised my Mama I& #39;d be okay.
One Sunday morning, on August 23rd, I felt some sharp pain. I was seven months pregnant by then. Pain got serious and i needed to get a checkup. But nurses were on strike. Somehow, a friend with a car drove me to St. Mary& #39;s Hospital in Lang& #39;ata where nurses were still working.
Less than an hour after being admitted, while I was still seven months pregnant, I gave birth. To an underdeveloped baby. I gave birth two months before time. It was the tiniest baby I had ever seen. I was worried sick of her survival chances cos I was to give birth in October.
But after grueling days of administering Kangaroo Mother Care to my baby, I was free to go home. Kangaroo Mother Care is administered to low-birth weight and preterm infants like my baby. I named her Kareen Nduta. And went back home to my tiny single room. To raise a child.
My entire experience- from my early days of pregnancy, the loneliness and stresses of the entire period, constant lack of basic needs (even food), my single-handed struggle to stay alive and keep baby alive, taught me innumerable lessons. It made me an activist for people like me
And that& #39;s how, inspired by British single mom Hayley Steere and footballer Marcus Rashford, I started the Free My Meal campaign. Quickly, a few friends joined me. Well-wishers joined too and soon, we started providing at least 50 homecooked meals to 50 underprivileged homes.
It& #39;s been a week now n the reception has been amazing. We cook the meals ourselves, team up every day around lunchhour and give out meals to people like me - single mothers, slum women, children and also, to the elderly and sickly. I& #39;ve been down that road, I knew s& #39;one needs me.
We& #39;ve had nice support on Facebook (I& #39;ll share Facebook page) and are now asking you to help us feed people like me - we& #39;ve been to Ruturo, Kamae and Baba Dogo to dish out meals to happy, poor families. It& #39;s like I finally found my call. Please, we need meals from you. Anything.
We need ready, homecooked meals (no pepper, no spices). Dry foods. Any donation. Someone advised me to create an MCHANGA and I did. Also, I was advised to also try Twitter and I have. Kindly, support my initiative to feed 5000 homes in 90 days. Be a volunteer too. Or a cook.
Please support us on MCHANGA, call us for ready meals and other forms of dry foods. Be a volunteer. Or a cook. We shall collect the meals and give them out. Spare some coins for us. Anything. As we embark on feeding the 5,000 vulnerable homes for 90 days.
You can also support directly on MPESA on 0768890025. Or Call for further information. I& #39;m past my pain, my fears, my worries and loneliness. This campaign has given my life purpose. And yes, no mother deserves to endure pregnancy alone. It can drive you crazy. Thank you Kenyans.
