Makame was two years old when we met at one of our clinics. We had been to this village many times but never saw Makame. This day was different; his parents decided they could trust us with their son, so they brought him out of his home for the first time in a very long time. He had retinoblastoma, a type of cancer. The outward appearance of this was an enormous growth on the outside of his eye oozing with bacteria. One of our US team nurses called me to look at Makame and ask what we could do for him. I had no idea what to do, but knew we would do all that was possible.

For eight months we prayed for him, cared for him and he became part of our lives. Our first step was to take him to the hospital in town, next Makame, his grandmother and our staff member went to the mainland hospital. We were able to get him into surgery and chemotherapy treatment. It seemed we were only two weeks away for him to return to his home, completely well. During his long stay in Dar es Salaam with his grandmother he met a very nice man that came to tell him stories and share how much God loved him. He was by this time a very happy three year old, playing with cars, eating well, enjoying life and running everywhere. But on May 13, 2011 Makame passed away unexpected by his doctors, family and us. Our teamed joined his family preparing him for the funeral and burial. We mourned with his family; sorrow gripped all of our hearts. We know Makame walks in heaven today.