The Pain Hurts!

My friend, Girma Nigussie, 35, was suddenly hospitalized for colon cancer for about seven months in 2010. He fled Ethiopia due to political unrest in the country, and lived under extremely difficult conditions in Djubuti before he came to San Diego in 1999. Girma was deeply religious and was known for his generosity to needy people. His hard work has been examplar among the Ethiopian community in San Diego.

I met Girma about six years ago and we became very close friends. We always supported and encouraged each other. We cooked and ate together, helped people, and started a church together. He played keyboard for our new church choir.

When the doctors told him that he had some weeks to live, I decided to be by his bedside, and became more deeply involved in helping him. Surprisingly, he was so at peace and encouraged us all to praise God for his life.

Despite his hope to live longer, he passed away on January 1, 2011 at 6:00am. At the beginning, I was shocked in disbelief. Later, I was angry at the unfairness of his untimely death. Losing a very close friend in a foreign country is so hard to overcome. It hurts!