She gave us a scare after developing the fever and the doctor said she would have to be hospitalized for IV therapy. They had started her on heavy doses of antibiotics and ARV medicine when she tested positive for HIV and that started a fungus infection in her mouth. We had lost other babies in the same way and for that reason we were all very happy to have her returned to us on Tuesday afternoon… back to her old self. In the evening she had difficulty taking her ARV medicine and vomited four times but calmed down when given her bottle and had a good nights sleep. In the morning she did much better taking her medicine but than an hour later she slipped into a comma and quietly left us.

The children were called from school and Luak Phos led us in the funeral service… it has been awhile since our last death but everyone still knows the routine. They stop being children, for just a few moments, and take on the role of adults… praying one of their own through to that which lies beyond the veil.

They accompaied her on the final steps of her journey to the crematorium… and then ran off to be the children that they are.

Wayne