A Sister's Dream Anything IS Possible

By SARAH CHITONGO

"I carry my childhood with me; it made me the woman I am today..."

Thus begins A Sister's Dream, the inspiring true story of one woman's journey from devastating poverty in Zimbabwe to becoming an award-winning pioneer in the use of augmented reality in midwifery training and addressing the unequal treatment of Black, Asian, an

• Language: English
• Publisher: SARAH CHITONGO
• Release date: Sep 16, 2022
• ISBN: 9798887961989

SARAH CHITONGO

Sarah Chitongo's story is one driven by hard work, kindness and compassion. A Sister's Dream is the inspirational story of how Sarah's career as a midwife evolved to that of a highly influential educator. Motivated by her personal and professional experiences, Sarah's notable acheivements include pioneering the use of augmented reality technology in midwifery training and raising awareness of the high number of deaths among Black, Asian and Ethnic Minority (BAME) women during pregnancy and childbirth.

Book preview

A Sister’s Dream

ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE

SARAH CHITONGO

A Sister’s Dream

Anything Is Possible

A Sister’s Dream

Anything Is Possible

SARAH CHITONGO

Copyright © Sarah Chitongo

First print August 2022

www.StoryTerrace.com

To Mama and Baba, thank you for instilling in me a hunger for change in the world. To my siblings, I have such deep gratitude for your support throughout my life. To my extended family, work colleagues and friends, who have shown nothing but kindness, may you all be blessed. To my wonderful children Victoria, Jonathan, Mukundi and AJ, thank you for the late night ‘cuppas’ that kept me going as I wrote this book. And finally to Para, the love of my life, I am forever grateful to you for standing by me always.

CONTENTS

1 WHEN THINGS WERE GOOD

2 EVERYTHING FALLS APART

3 THE ONLY WAY IS UP

4 THE ITALIAN PATIENT

5 CALL THE MIDWIFE

6 THE MIDWIFE GIVES BIRTH!

7 BRACE FOR IMPACT

8 BEING THE CHANGE

9 THE RECOGNITION

10 SPREADING THE MESSAGE

11 MOTHER OF MANY

12 FUTURE HOPES

1

WHEN THINGS WERE GOOD

I

carry my childhood with me; it made me the woman am today. The qualities I observed in my parents as I  grew up have become the shining stars that guide me on my journey through life. Both my parents had strong and determined beliefs; they were people who were willing not only to believe, but to act upon those beliefs. Like them, I have come to define myself based on my experiences, which have aroused an indomitable passion within my soul. This is the story of how my career evolved and how I have strived tomake a difference to people’s lives by raising awareness of the high number of deaths among Black, Asian and Ethnic Minority (BAME) women during pregnancy and childbirth. Inspired by my midwifery experiences,

I pioneered the use of augmented reality technology in midwifery training.

I grew up in llanda, Zimbabwe, where my father, Michael, had been the first black man to buy a house from a white man in the affluent area of Bulawayo. Childhood naivety meant that I noticed none of the racism of which my mother later informed me. All I saw were the kind smiles of neighbours who waved at us each day as we left for school.

I came from a close-knit family of five, with an older sister, Jane, and three younger siblings, Violet, Gari and Tapiwa. We all looked out for each other. We played hide and seek in our large five-bedroomed house, and Jacaranda trees provided canopies of green shade as we played games, such as skipping, in our spacious garden. We could indulge in various sporting activities as we had our own tennis court and swimming pool. We enjoyed family discussions over scrumptious meals in our massive kitchen before relaxing in the lounge. Our parents’ bedroom had an en-suite bathroom; few houses in Zimbabwe at that time could afford such luxury. Our estate included a cottage where our staff, including the butler, could reside, and life was great all round. We took regular vacations to Botswana and South Africa, staying in luxurious hotels and sailing in expensive yachts during the day. However, our parents wished for us to remain grounded, and they ensured that we remembered our roots by taking us on regular trips to visit our grandparents.

My dad’s homestead was Rusape, a rural village, where he had built another very large five-bedroomed house, which we loved to visit. My parents had a very loving relationship, having married, aged 23, with the full support of over 400 family and friends at each of their two receptions; one where Mum’s family lived – Wedza – and one at Rusape. Apparently, it had been love at first sight, and my siblings and I always felt secure and well-loved as we were raised by our parents, who clearly adored each other and us. Our dad was very soft-hearted with us, and we soon learnt that he was the one to ask if we wanted something. Mum, with her schoolteacher authority, made us work hard for anything we wanted, with the clear message that money does not grow on trees!

Everything about our lives was so much fun. Birthdays were celebrated with amazing, massive cakes, which had been ordered from