“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” – Rev 21:4 ESV
I met Seth at the Medical School when a friend of mine and I had gone to one of their libraries to study. He came into the library and settled somewhere close by. I thought he had come in to study but apparently, he had seen an attraction there.
He waited a few minutes and started passing me notes on pieces of paper which I mostly ignored. There was one particular note which was so funny, I finally decided to reply. This started a friendship between us. Sometimes, he’d walk me down the road to my house – I always made him stop short of my house because I used to tell him my mother was a fire-brand who would not countenance men around me.
Then one day with boldness, he said, “Today, I’m meeting your mother come what may!” – and he did, only to find out that my mother was a pleasant woman who made him feel welcomed. With time, the friendship blossomed into a relationship that ended in marriage in 1982.
He was a compassionate and caring husband and this translated also into the care of his patients. He spent long hours at work, understudying his bosses and making sure he acquired all the skills relevant to his work. He also made sure he read the latest journals, practicing stitches, using sutures and generally keeping up to date with the latest trends in medicine.
When he went abroad to do his specialist course, his professor supervised him to do a few surgical procedures and after that, he had absolute confidence in him. And whenever he traveled out of town, he left all his patients in Seth’s care, especially those who needed to be operated upon. There were other white residents but such was the level of trust he had in Seth’s abilities.
As a father and husband, Seth did not shirk his responsibilities. He worked hard to support his families and even those who were not family. He was a very generous person who believed in sharing with others. Our home was open to lots of visitors and everyone who came had something to eat. He hated partiality and made sure domestic workers were all treated fairly.
He loved to work with his hands, fixing things around the house like door locks, bicycles, etc. He also enjoyed farming. At one time, he had a farm away from the house and he’d go there early in the morning to go and do some farming before leaving for work.
Seth, when we were younger, you were looking forward to us growing old together when the kids have left home, but sickness, like the thief that it is, came early to steal this dream. It struck you down with all manner of diseases. We sought medical interventions and numerous spiritual interventions, but they didn’t seem to yield the results we wanted.
We watched as your speech deteriorated, writing skills were lost, energy reduced, till you could no longer take care of yourself. You were in and out of the hospital countless number of times, some emergencies both in Kumasi and Accra.
I remember reading the Bible to you in the evenings and then praying with you. Even though you could not communicate at that time, I knew you looked forward to those times of fellowship because when I delayed a little, you’d always come and stand in the doorway to remind me. Sometimes, I gave you an exercise book and a pen just so that you would scribble, occasionally, proper words came out of the scribbles that gave me hope that perhaps one day, things would change for the better.
Throughout your sickness, I watched over you like a little baby, catering to your every need, waking up several times at night to make sure you were comfortable and that all was well with you. I had hoped against hope that one day things would turn around for the better but our Lord knows better by calling you home.
On that fateful day, 1st December, 2021, we took you to the hospital seeing that you were in discomfort. We were sure you’d come back home at the end of the treatment just like all the other times, but alas, this was not to be.
I know you’re in a better place now, away from sickness and pain but I do miss you everyday and my hope is that we’ll meet again on the resurrection day.
Fare thee well my dear Seth!
God bless you mum. God knows best and I know that he will continue to strengthen you in this difficult times.
Mrs you have done well for your husband. You stood by him for better for worst as the saying goes in marriage. God richly bless you. You are an ideal wife. I love you with all my heart.
Our condolences to you and the family. God bless you. May his soul rest in peace.
Gloria, my very good friend, you were a virtuous wife to Seth, a true help-meet and companion to the very end, till death has now parted the two of you.
We prayed together for our children, for everything that concerns us and we rejoiced and thanked God for the answers to our prayers for God heard us. We prayed continually and fervently for Seth’s recovery, for a miracle believing that God will come through just as he had done with other prayer topics, but alas, who are we to question him? He’s omniscient, he knows best. Let’s be comforted by this, that Seth is no longer in pain or distress, he’s in a better place now and we shall meet again in glory. Hallelujah!
Be strong and take heart my dear friend, it’s well in Jesus’s mighty name. Amen!
Indeed, your home was home for all without favoritism. Asuyeboah and then to Danyame was the Ashanti home for the Ga boy from Tema between 1996 and 2000 as an undergraduate student of faculty of pharmacy, KNUST.
During that period, I spent most of the weekends and sometimes weekdays when I was broke and funds were not coming from Tema on time. Aunty Gloria, you and Dr. Sengrenti made your home my home and quickly introduced me to Sandra, Kevin and Kwame. I always looked forward to joining you for special red red and beans stew, sometimes plain rice with kontomire stew. Your weekly stipends was so much a support that, I was not worried on finance, knowing my Aunty Gloria and Uncle Seth have me covered.
You knew when all was not going well with me and will counsel and assure me, all will be well and that, I need to keep faith in God. You will share God’s word with me and remind me of God’s promises. You brought life to that word of God that says, “the righteous will not beg for bread” just to assure me that, I will never go hungry.
Such was the love and care I received from you and Uncle Seth and that visit to campus to check on me and Freda, Uncle Seth’s niece, when she was a fresher and to introduce us to each other. Freda became a sister on campus and you always ensured we saw ourselves from the same home. We sometimes plan our home visits together.
In 2000 when I graduated, Danyame, your home was the venue for our reception at zero cost to me and all the family from Tema.
The biggest Tilipia meal I ever had and enjoyed till date was offered by Uncle Seth at the Officer’s Mess on that evening of graduation when we snicked out quietly together with Uncle Sackey. Uncle Seth oriented me for the health profession, the challenges and the opportunities, the need for me to remain focus and use my profession as a call from God to serve humanity. We discussed Master’s programmes and advised on carefully deciding on what Program I choose for a Master’s degree.
Uncle Seth, you have contributed your quota directly and indirectly through the many lives you have touched.
Rest well my Kumasi Dad, for there’s rest for those who labour for the Lord.