Dear Colleagues,
This is to inform you all that my son Loni Apinyi, born 26th October 2007 passed away yesterday 30th October 2007.
Upon
conception, the 24th week scan indicated (Hypoplastic left heart
syndrome) that the left heart would be underdeveloped. Subsequent scans
consistently confirmed the original findings. We were tranferred from
Lewisham University Hospital (where all our three sons were born) to
Guy's and St Thomas that administers specialist services.
Loni
was due on 16th of October but like all his brothers, he stayed on. We
checked in for inducement in the evening of thursday 25th October. The
inducement would occurr in the morning of 26th October. Labour
commenced that night, and he was born at 8:45am Friday without
inducement. He was 8.5 Ibs.
He
was stable and to us he was normal just like his three brothers, but
the complication meant he would live only a few days without medical
intervention. He cried like all other newborns, opened his eyes and
tried to suckle naturally. We had to take the painful decision and
sign a consent form (fully aware of all risks) so that he would undergo
surgery, the surgery in question is called Norwood procedure. The
operation which was planned for tuesday30th actually took place one day
earlier on Monday 29th.
On
the morning of tuesday after the operation, his blood pressure began to
drop, and his heart stopped, his heart beat was restarted by means of
rescusitation 5 times, using electric shocks (Cardiac massage) etc. It
was apparent he would not survive. The superb team of Professional,
Cardiologist,
Consultants, Fellows, Registrars, Paediatric Nurses, Anaesthests,
Pharmacists had given their 101% and could not reverse what was meant to
be. By 9:00 am, it was obvious we had to face the reality, all the
morphin to kill the pain, all the adrenalin to keep the heart beating,
all the other associated fluids administered to support life were just
prolonging his death and not his life. At our request, a Priest
hurriedly conducted a short prayer during which Loni was baptised
as Loni Apinyi, annointed with oil and we were provided a baptism
candle.
There
was no need trying anymore, the machines were turned off one by one the
tubes were removed, he died in our arms at about 1:00pm. We then
washed him, oiled him and dressed him. 15 minutes later, a doctor
formerly pronounced him dead. We spent the whole afternoon with him,
carrying him. Loni spent his short life at Evelina's
children's hospital intensive care unit. The team there are a God-send
to humanity. I don't know how to reciprocate the love, care and
professionalism accorded to us.
Due
to this, I won't be able to work untill we've burried Loni. Today,
we're going back to St Thomas to get his death certificate, after that,
we've got to register his birth and death simultaneously. We'll then be
busy arranging the funeral. We've got to be there so family members
can view the body. Culturally this is a low-key funeral because he
lived a relatively short life, it is treated in much the same way as a
miscarriage, so all the formal procedures are foregone. There will be a
church service.
Kind Regards,
David T.K Apinyi.
PS
Loni
is
my great great great great grandfather. i.e. I'm Tukupe born (1968),
my father is Apinyi(1936), his father is Lacona approximatley (1900)
whose father is Awic (1846), whose father is Camo approximately
(1800-1805), Camo's father is Lubwa approximatley (1775) and Lubwa's
father is Loni(1720s).
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