Home Featured Mums George Ojwang: Remembering my Dear Wife Claris, Two Years On

George Ojwang: Remembering my Dear Wife Claris, Two Years On

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Last Saturday, I had the chance to catch up with George Ojwang’ whose wife Claris developed pregnancy related complications when expecting their second son. This was in February 2012. Claris was 38 weeks pregnant when she developed pre-eclampsia, a life-threatening condition that occurs during pregnancy, usually after the 20th week.

After complaining of a severe headache, Claris had suddenly collapsed in the house where she had been resting, and was rushed to hospital. An emergency caesarean section was performed on her, and she delivered a healthy and bouncing baby boy called Henry. However, while the couple’s new-born son went straight from theatre to nursery, Claris went straight from theatre to the Intensive Care Unit.

A head scan revealed a ruptured blood vessel, which had led to a blood clot in the brain. As she lay comatose in her hospital bed, her husband George was always hopeful that his wife would eventually wake up from her slumber.

But she did not, for on 6 December 2012, Claris passed away. She never got to meet her son. Henry, now aged two years, never got the chance to meet his mother as well.

George was kind enough to grant me an interview, and he lets us know what happened on the day she died, and how life has been after that –as a widower raising two sons.

On the day that Claris died, George was headed to visit his wife at the hospital after a busy morning in the office.

“She was at the Kenyatta National Hospital, and that day, I was unable to get parking at the hospital. Frustrated, I decided to drive back to town to park my car there, then board a shuttle back to the hospital. As I was parking in town, I received a phone call from the hospital. The nurse told me that I was needed urgently, but refused to disclose the reason,” he says.

Just the evening before, George had spent time with his wife as usual.

“As I held her hand and spoke to her, something amazing happened. She had always been unresponsive but that day, even though she was still in a coma, I unbelievably watched tears stream down her face.”

The beautiful Claris.
The beautiful Claris.

“To me, it only meant one thing – that she was slipping out of the coma, and that it was only a matter of time before my Clarita (as he fondly called her) would regain consciousness. I left hospital that night a very happy and hopeful man, looking forward to seeing her the following day. I knew that she would be able to have a chat with me then.”

However, the phone call from the hospital as he parked his car caused him great anxiety.

“I boarded a shuttle at Kencom bus stop, but it was taking too long to fill up and so I decided to walk to KNH. Actually, I was half jogging, half sprinting,” George remembers.

When he got to the hospital, he immediately cast his eyes towards her bed. Indeed, Claris was on the bed. But she was covered with a white bed sheet. She was gone. Gone without saying goodbye. Claris had died at 1.20pm -the very same time he was looking for parking in town, having left KNH after failing to get a parking spot. George struggled to comprehend what was going on.

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Maryanne W. Waweru is a Kenyan mum raising her two sons in Nairobi. A journalist, Maryanne is passionate about telling stories and hopes that through her writing, her readers learn something new, feel encouraged, inspired, and appreciative of what they have in their lives. Maryanne's writing focuses on motherhood, women and lifestyle. "Telling stories is the only thing I know how to do," she says.

10 COMMENTS

  1. I’m so happy to read about George and his journey of healing! I remember visiting Claris together with some other Kili’mum members while she was still at AKUH and the loving way in which George spoke about her really touched us.
    However, I’m glad that he has now found someone to accompany on his journey; no one will ever take Claris’ place but George deserves to feel loved and appreciated as well 🙂

    May God continue to bless this amazing man and his handsome sons; may Claris’ soul continue to rest peaceful in the Lord’s arms.

  2. Nice read, I cant say I understand what he has been through, I can clearly see a a God fearing man, respectful and one who loves his wife to date. All will be well in the Lord, for him and his children.

  3. The good Lord will carry you through on wings like eagles n continue to uphold you each day every step of the way. In our prayers.

  4. This dates back to Feb 2012 at Nh and am glad to see you this brave George,the boys look happy cared for .God is surely watching over you.Congratulations for believing in yourself and like he said “the married ,treasure your partners,love and respect them,be faithful to one another and commit to your marriage vows”

  5. May God give you strength to carry on. God is so faithful he will never abandon u with your sons. may her soul rest in eternal peace.

  6. Am very sorry gentleman for what happened to you but above all they are God’s plan mine is just to tell you to man up and fully trust in God let the pain of your dear make you grow and with time you will let it go, anything you do consult from heavenly constitution and above all the mighty God will always see you through.
    Read John 16:20-22 always

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