News Archive
Adishiwot Teka's journey from Addis Ababa to London, September 2008
Adis was being escorted to the Brompton Hospital for a cardiac procedure which was going to take place either on the 7th or 9th of October. It was eventually brought forward as an emergency for Thursday 2nd October. Her flight from Addis Ababa had been booked for Tuesday 30th September via Amman in Jordan and in order to come back with her on that date I had to leave London on Sunday afternoon 28th September, also via Jordan.Everything went smoothly on departure. The crew was absolutely fantastic and when I explained the reason for my journey they said they were looking forward to seeing me and my charge on the return trip. They were leaving the plane in Amman and would be rejoining us there on the way back.
The rest of the trip, I am glad to say, was uneventful and I finally reached the hotel on Monday morning. After a short rest I contacted Sister Selamnesh of "The Heart Fund of Ethiopia" who arranged an afternoon meeting with Adis at the hotel.
And soon it was time to meet Adis. She came with an uncle who spoke English and she understood a little and spoke very few words. She was (and is) enchanting, a very happy young lady despite her medical condition which made her feel always tired and unable to walk much. She seemed to be looking forward to her trip to UK and if she felt anxious she never let it show, but she is a very self contained person. We chatted for a while and decided that we would all go to the airport together. Adis' mother and sister accompanied us and it was soon time to part.
The formalities were out of the way in no time at all - no problem there - and we were finally seated in the economy section which was half empty. We were allowed to "spread" over several seats and again the crew was extremely helpful. Adis was a bit tense when we took to the air but it soon passed and she ate heartily. She started watching a film but soon fell asleep until we reached Amman. Some passengers left but many Jordanians joined us and this section of the aircraft filled completely. But help was at hand..... there was a change of crew and the attendants I had met on my way down rejoined us. Once the plane was in the air they came to take us to the business class section and they were absolutely great. I am so grateful to them for making the journey such a lovely experience for Adis and she was positively beaming all the way!
The trip was soon over. I would have liked to take photos of Adis with the crew just before leaving the plane, but some problems on arrival and a rush to empty the aircraft of passengers when the buses finally arrived, prevented me doing so.
Immigration was quickly dealt with and we were meeting Jean, the host mother and Julhian who represented Chain of Hope and who spoke Amharic.
I met Adis once more, at the airport, prior to her departure home. She looked so well and her English had improved and she was taking with her so many things, clothes, a well filled photo album of her life with Jean and her husband Albert during those few days in London. And of course she was so happy to recount, with a big smile, the long walks she had taken in London and the stairs she could climb after her successful surgical procedure. This is how I shall remember her, happy, animated, lovely.
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