Ebola is no friend. It was a tragedy that I cannot ever forget and would wish not to remember, but how can I! It claimed the lives of my very close brothers and sisters as well as friends.

It was on this faithful day July 20, 2014. I paid my fraternal visit to St. Joseph’s Catholic Hospital (SJCH) Monrovia – Liberia for Sunday mass: I learned Br. Patrick Nshamdze was sick. Dr. Senga Raphael was his doctor and Sr. Chantal, his special nurse, very strict: ‘NO VISITORS’ was the notice to welcome anyone on the door room in the Brothers’ community. I spoke with Brother from a distance.

I went there again on July 27th for mass but this time he had been transferred to the hospital and treated for malaria: this has been too long, more than 15 days already and the malaria was not subsiding. Then he was generally suspected for the ‘great’ EVD. The unfortunate thing was that by this time, many had had almost very direct contact with him though not declared positive of the EVD.

Pushed by my charismatic St. John of God instinct care for the sick, I spent almost the whole day giving him all the necessary support and assistance I could – always in gloves protection. It was almost 7:00 p.m. when Sr. Chantal called me on phone: ‘hey William my brother’, she said ‘give Br. Patrick a bath, it’s almost prayers time, I will not be there soon’. I happy did what Sr. Chantal had asked me and left to my house after that. About 73 hours later, I heard he had been tested positive of the EVD. I started trembling for I was not sure of my situation anymore, especially as he died less than 5 days after.

I packed my little bag to the Brothers’ house under the request of Br. George with the consent of Father Miguel, to help the Brothers and Sisters as they too started manifesting signs and symptoms of the virus. This stay lasted for 2 nights; I packed back to my house and only visited them during the whole day. In that tense atmosphere, we were all tested 3 day after Br. Patrick’s death and Fr. Miguel and Sr. Chantal came out positive and arrangements were made for father’s evacuation to Spain, while Sr. Chantal was to be transferred to the Ebola Treatment Centre (ETC). 2 days later, other results, Br. George and others came out positive. I was the most terrifying period of my life. I watched Sr. Chantal die that night while Br. George was transferred to the ETC. I saw death in him and 48 hours later, he died in the centre. A few other lay collaborators who were also tested positive, were transferred in almost same condition as Br. George: my heart was filled with grief, for I smelled death. I could not help but cry painfully in my heart: many wonderful persons dying right in front of me. What could I helplessly do? Nothing!

Then came the time for me to be quarantined: the Ministry of Health of Liberia had an agent to check on me daily, food was brought to me in my room, tenants in the building left the house for some time, the community in which I stayed looked at me like a moving corps, etc. I never stopped thinking of death. The only phone calls I made were asking for prayer requests, those that I received were encouragements and prayers. Sincerely I suffered for 21 days: I could not visit and could not be visited: what a pain! Thank God, I came out of it and I am feeling much at peace with my spirit now.

Thank you all for your prayers and support.

EVD is no friend and should not even be wished to your worst enemy. It ravaged families, loved ones, medical personnel, officials, children, religious men and women. It has no mercy.