Hello, I’m a 29-year-old woman grieving the recent loss of my beloved grandfather, who passed away at the age of 90 due to illness.
Growing up, I didn’t have the opportunity to live near my grandparents. My parents fled Rwanda due to war and raised me in West Africa. At age 19, I moved to Kenya to pursue my university studies—and it was during this time that I was finally able to travel to Rwanda and meet my extended family. I was 20 when I met my grandfather for the first time. It was love at first sight. He welcomed me with warmth, and we formed a bond I will always cherish.
Earlier this year, I was able to visit my mother and siblings in West Africa after seven years away (first in Kenya, then in the U.S.). That trip was made during an unpaid leave of absence, as I had to be with my family after my father passed away in December 2023.
Shortly after returning to the U.S., I began receiving heartbreaking updates about my grandfather’s declining health. He had been diagnosed with prostate cancer. In his final days, he could no longer eat or drink and lost a significant amount of weight. It was incredibly painful to witness his suffering from afar. He passed away peacefully last Sunday morning.
I long to return to Rwanda this June to be with my grandmother and support my family as we honor his memory together. Unfortunately, after taking unpaid leave recently, I cannot afford the trip. A round-trip flight is estimated at $1,400–$2,000, and I am budgeting a total of $3,000–$5,000 for travel and related expenses.
If you feel moved to support this journey of love, healing, and remembrance, I would deeply appreciate your generosity. Donations can be made through this link:
👉 https://paypal.me/safariyes?country.x=US&locale.x=en_US
Thank you so much for reading my story. Every contribution, big or small, means the world to me.