The Unexpected Death of our Beloved Daughter Faith
Faith Chalula Mufaya passed away unexpectedly on 20th of Nov. 2022 at 14 years old. She also was suffering from a skin condition called vitiligo.
Born as the second child and only daughter to Chinga Mukisi (mother) and Mufaya Lukonga (father) on 27 September 2008. Like any other child, Faith was born beautiful and a healthy baby without any challenges. When Faith was 5 years old she started her pre-school in 2013 at Sesheke primary and the following year she started grade one at the same school. Faith immediately became obsessed with passion of teaching, because each time she would come from school she would gather other neighboring children and play the teaching role and sometimes as if it was a joke, she would demand her mother or father, whoever was present at that time to attend to her childish, but obvious career which became a hobby.
At that time everything was just fine until in 2016 at the age of 8 when vitiligo signs and symptoms started to develop on her upper eyebrow and later on spread to the rest of her body. As parents we tried almost everything from conventional medicine, prayers, and even to witch doctors, but to no avail.
Growing up, Faith felt accustomed to the company of adults. She was always more mature than the other children at school. Even when she gained friends, she often felt annoyed at them while growing up because she felt that they were too childish.
Some of Faith’s favorite activities were teaching, singing; cleaning utensils and helping her mother sell fritters or scones as it was the only source of income. Faith passed through very difficult life challenges like rejection, mockery and bullying at school, which eventually made her stop schooling in grade five (5) when she was 10 years old.
Faith seemed to know that she wouldn’t live a normal life or a long one, because sometimes she would ask me her father; “Why am I like this? Why are other children not like me? Is my skin going to change to its original color or not? ” Therefore, it really pains me that she died with unanswered questions which I couldn’t provide answers to. And each time I think about my daughter I sometimes feel like a failed father who couldn’t do anything possible to save my daughter. She was a victim of a strange skin condition, which could not be cured or named, in our local language.
After my daughter’s suffering and struggling for a long time without any hope of treatment or cure in everything we tried. I couldn’t sit idle without doing anything to help my daughter, therefore out of agony and pain in my heart I thought of trying other options like checking the internet for anything that will seem to be of useful to my daughter’s worsening condition. On 11th august 2019 as I was searching the internet I came to know about AVRF for the first time.
The following was the first message I sent to AVRF
‘’Please help. I have an 11 years old daughter with vitiligo condition. It started in 2016 with small patches but now it has gone worse that she eventually stopped attending school due to stigma and bullies by other children. We tried almost everything: Hospital, Herbalists, Prayers, traditional medicine name it, but all to no avail. As if it is not enough, my 8 years old boy also he has started developing same condition. Please any one to help me find assistance of any kind. Yours Mufaya Lukonga, from Zambia.”
After my daughter’s suffering and struggling for a long time without any hope of treatment or cure in everything we tried. I couldn’t sit idle without doing anything to help my daughter, therefore out of agony and pain in my heart I thought of trying other options like checking the internet for anything that will seem to be of useful to my daughter’s worsening condition. On 11th august 2019 as I was searching the internet I came to know about AVRF for the first time.
Stella promised to raise money for Faith, which she managed and the RECOULEUR vitamins were received here in Zambia for my daughter. Therefore on behalf of Lukonga family I want to take this opportunity once more to thank AVRF members for unconditional support and assistance rendered to us and our beloved daughter Faith may her soul rest in eternal peace.
Our family was not expecting the loss of Faith or for her life to be cut so short so soon. We are devastated by this loss and will feel the absence of her forever. Faith Chalula Mufaya was the sweetest, finest, most loving soul and a joy to be around.
Faith will be forever missed.
Faith will always be remembered by Chinga Mukis (mother), Muifay Malamo (father), Malamo Mufaya (elder brother), Lukonga Mufaya (younger brother).
