I’m glad I left Australia and came home – Brian Abonyo
Bomet Governor Joyce Laboso’s eldest son Brian Ochieng Kibet Abonyo on Friday came clean about the challenges of taking care of his mother during her last days.
Brian narrated that he only found out about his mother’s illness in December 2018 when he made the decision to leave his life in Australia and come back to settle in Kenya.
He stated that it was particularly difficult for him and his father, Edwin Abonyo, to watch Governor Laboso waste away in her last days.
“Throughout the illness, Dad and I spent a lot of time with her, we went with her to London and India, we used to dispense her medication…but the reality of the matter is we also saw her really deteriorate and to be honest, it just got to a point that it was just a little bit too much to bear.
“When she was lying there helpless, feeling like she had been stripped of all her dignity…for us we kept praying and people kept praying…and I think we came to a point where we prayed for God to heal her but if it would not be possible then let her rest. And I think we are happy and we have accepted that she has rested because it became too much,” he narrated.
I hated my job in Australia – Brian Abonyo
Brian further expressed that he felt at peace having taking care of his mother during her last days, which was only possible because he left Australia.
“I’ve been living in Australia for about 15 years and in December 2018 I made the decision to come back home. what I didn’t know is that mum was sick, and it really baffles me…the Lord works in mysterious ways because I was just coming home because I had missed my family, I was sick of Sydney, I hated my job…so i thought, let me come back home.
“I just thank God that I was able to spend the last 7 months with mum because I just don’t know what I would have done with myself if all this happened while I was in Australia,” he narrated.
He also reiterated the fact that Dr Laboso’s first attack of cancer came while he was seven years old and his brother Ted Abonyo was only four years old.
He stated that he was grateful cancer didn’t take his mum the first time and recounted all the memories of her dedication to them as they grew up.
“Even though we sit here and we are so hurt and so devastated, it is very important that we count our blessings because we had a mother all through. If mum had died when I was 7 and Ted was 4, who would have come to Prize Giving days? Who would have come to the recitals? Who would have attended those rugby games Ted plays? Who would have been Marco’s second mother after Aunt Lorna passed away? It is very important that we count our blessings,”he remarked.
Brian was speaking during a memorial service in Bomet County.
