Dubai: Though she could neither speak nor respond cognitively, coma patient Esther Wanjiru Mwikamba's "tears' said it all.
The Kenyan assault victim's condition has "improved" these past few days, her family said. Esther's mother, Hannah, arrived from Kenya early morning on Friday to be by her bedside.
"It [mom's presence] makes her better. It's positive because you can see Esther crying," Lucy, Esther's younger sister, told Gulf News during a visit at the Intensive Care Unit in Rashid Hospital.
A rosary lies on top of Esther's chest for continued protection. She has been on life support since February 18 after being brutally assaulted by a man in a parking lot in Dubai. The case is still under police investigation.
While Esther's brain activity has diminished, according to the doctors, Lucy believes that her sister could still hear them.
"Even if her eyes are closed, you'll see tears drop. But when you ask the nurses, they'll tell you it's just fluid. But we believe it's tears," Lucy said. "It started when I arrived. Like yesterday, the whole day she was crying. I know she's in too much pain."
Mother's arrival
When Hannah arrived past midnight on Friday, she did not waste time and headed straight to Rashid Hospital which granted the family's request to see Esther.
"They only gave us 10 minutes, but it went for 30 minutes. It was very difficult [for our mom to leave the room]; I had to beg her," Lucy said.
Hannah's first words to Esther were still fresh in Lucy's memory. "She talked to her, begging her to wake up. She told her, "You are my daughter, my first born, it doesn't matter how you are, and how you're gonna be after waking up. But we love you so much and the moment you wake up, I'll take you back home," Lucy said, adding that they prayed together and anointed Esther with oil before leaving her side.
Lucy has not stopped believing that Esther, who put her through college and the family's sole breadwinner, will soon wake up.
Hope lingers
"By the grace of God, the situation is okay. We are just waiting for God's time for her to eventually wake up and we'll all go back home to Kenya," Lucy said.
Hannah has been emotional since she saw Esther. When she's not by Esther's side, she would sit in the lobby and silently weep. Her hands remain clasped all the time and she would whisper prayers for Esther.
