Personal Background
This memorial website was created by TERRY MENGISTU in loving memory of Rebecca Hailu.
Rebecca was born on 01.10.1974 and sadly passed away on 29.01.2008 at the age of 33. <, Rebecca was born on October I, 1974 in Ethiopia Addis Ababa she graduated high school in Addis Ababa on 1993- at St Mary School, after she graduated high school; she studied at commercial school for two years and got her Diploma. Later on Rebecca worked in Ethiopian air line as flight attendant for five years at the same time she married to her loved one Haile Mengistu and brought two handsome boys Noel, 8 and Abel, 5. Rebecca and haile was a good couple they were always together and they were an example of a happy family in the town for their friends, family and for all who knows them.
Often, Rebecca used to had upper respiratory tract infection[Tonsillitis]” as usual in august 2007 she had upper respiratory tract infection and her Dr put her on antibiotic, despite this, the pain wasn’t responded to the treatment especially the pain which was more likely to her ear got worst, At last she went to her doctor for further investigation, Dr asked her to check first on her blood count [CBC], after a while the result of CBC followed by shocking news, the white blood count was very high and the Dr immediately diagnosed it as “leukemia”, all of her family and friends shocked and saddened by this devastating news, specially for her husband it was such a night mare, he considered it as a death sentence, but as medical technology has created grey area they didn’t lost hope, they immediately planned to go for a better treatment,her husband and her mother took her to south Africa [cape town ] hospital. One of her brother who lives in Canada also came to Cape Town to be by the side of his sister during this serious illness.
In Cape Town hospital, the Drs admitted her and started the necessary procedure, first they aspirated blood from her bone marrow and conformed that AML and Lymphoma which is the aggressive one, , then they had placed Hickman’s catheter to infuse intensive chemotherapy and other necessary treatment through it, and then gave her a radiotherapy. as the treatment weakened the immune system, she was very weak and very sick, it was difficult time for her and for her family who came along with her to cape town to be by the side of her to support, her mother, husband and brother.
After several weeks her body was responded to the treatment which were the good news, her Dr and her families was very happy, then the Dr planed for the next procedure BMT [bone marrow transplant], as donated bone marrow must match the patients tissue type, he asked to her siblings to go through for special test called HLA [human leukocyte antigen] tissue typing for match.
All her siblings went through this test; later on her eldest sister Marta who is living in state [Florida] matched Rebecca’s tissue, Marta was very happy to have compatible tissue with her sister. Immediately she traveled to South Africa to save her beloved sister. After several weeks of her arrival the bone marrow transplant took place.
After BMT transfusion as usual there was some complication, but for the first week Rebecca’s transfusions was ok, and all the family was happy, especially her doctor [Professor Nicholas] as he tried his best to win the disease. He said, “generally speaking, things are so far so good, she didn’t developed fever if this continue may be she will discharge after a couple of week.”.
But after a couple of week of transfusion Rebecca had developed an infection which is the usual early complication of transplantation including ulceration of the mouth ‘Mucositis.”
• According to the doctor, the infection and the pattern of organism cultured strongly pointed towards a colonized central line Hickman’s catheter, this has to taken out as antibiotics to not penetrate the plaster cover, and need to provide another source of venous access due to the type of treatment she would still continue to need.
• To ensure that the next line was not colonized by the same circulating bacteria, we usually insert a temporary line and once infection settles, change it for permanent one [Hickman].this was the plan for that afternoon.
• Despite this, that after noon Jan-29-08 one of her doctor Dr MacDonald came to insert the temporary central line, and while he was inserting, immediately he said he noted rapid bleeding and large clot was formed that compressed to her wind pipe [trachea] which was inflamed, later on she died there in the sight of the doctor, her mother, and her sister Marta who donated. Marta who was there beside her sister during this insertion is traumatized by her sister’s situation.
All her family bombarded by this devastating news on that day, it was a disaster moment, we lost our hope, after 6 month of fought to her disease she couldn’t able to make it home, Rebecca gone for ever left her beloved husband and children behind. According to her progressive improvement, we were waiting for a better result, but this insertion of temporary line [catheter] which is not monitored carefully is pierced her artery and cost us the life of our valued part of the family. This negligence left as with sad, fury, torment and mental anguish.
The post mortem examination showed arterial leak. “Let things speaks for it self”, at the same time while he is inserting the line in venous, why, how, and what the earth pierced an artery and let it leaked then lead to this tragic death. “We will ever know Let God give answer”.
As thousands of lives are saved by BMT Rebecca was hoped to go home soon after her transplant, to be with her kids and her loved husband, but unfortunately after she went through all this difficult time of her treatment her chance of survive is taken away by the act of derelict which is considered a “Gross negligence.”
Rebecca was a beautiful, a faithful, best wife ever, a soul mate, a protector, devoted to her beautiful family especially to her husband, precious loving, and kind mother to her handsome boys, dedicated to her work, a favorite daughter to her mother, not just a sister but more than a sister a valued and a treasure one for her sisters and brothers, a very special dear friend to her friends, she won the respect of her sisters, and brothers in-low by being A very dear friend and more than a sister, she was more than a daughter to her father in-low. She loved to being surrounded by her family and friends she was a tremendous asset for all of her families and friends she will always remembered.
In addition her husband and her sons Rebacca is survived,by her mother sisters,brothers,sisters in-low,brothers in-low,friends and family frinds.
Latest Tributes
I LOST A PERSON -
I lost the person irrepressible pearl of my eye.
I lost the person whom my day wouldn’t never pass with out her beside me.
I lost the treasure which I saved for the future of me and my sons.
I lost a person whom life with out her is a great loss and never again.
I lost the part of my life, and soul mate
I lost the person who was after me with her all might’s.
I lost a person whom always been her a advise protected me and put me a better place.
I lost a person whom I couldn’t get such a person again.
I lost Rebecca the source of my success I lost the love of my life and my children.
I will always miss her and keep her in my mind and heart.
God bless her.
Her husband.
on 25.04
- from HAILE MENGISTU