Joannah Bwomezi
Mrs. Corum
Creative Writing
Febuary 20, 2014
Rough Draft of Memoir
Three
years ago during the month of June a twelve-year-old girl named Jojo returned
home with her mother Anne and her younger sister Hannah. Uganda! It had been
about nine years since they had been in her home country. Jojo was so excited
because she hadn't seen her family for a long period of time. As soon as the
family landed, they were in shock. Uganda was not modern; it was not what
Hannah and Jojo expected at all. Jojo and Hannah thought some parts of the
environment were repulsive, but their mother was just happy to be home. Uganda
was nothing like Florida and the fact that the two teenage girls were going to
live there disturbed Jojo and Hannah in so any ways. The girls were so used to
perfect roads, amazing architecture, and clean environments. Uganda was the
complete opposite. There was pot wholesome the road, dirty areas, political
problems that were so clear to everyone, and poverty. Jojo and her sister
thought they would never love their home country. The girls just wanted to go
back to Lake Marry, Florida. Because the came to America at. Very early age America
was home to them. Just imagine leaving your home country at the age of four and
Hannah was two years old. Wouldn't you forget about some memories?
Florida, The United States of America was home to Jojo and her younger
sister Hannah. The young ladies would cry at night, avoid eating, and
going outside the first few days after they arrived in Uganda. Their mother
Anne was in love with the country because she was born and raised in Uganda and
many of her siblings as well as her parents lived here. It was if she was
living a fantasy.
Hannah, and Jojo were told they were going to Maraca for
the summer. The small town was about three hours from Kampala, where they
lived. Why were they going to Maraca? Well their grandparents lived there as
well as some other relatives including Jojo and Hannah's father. The girls were
going crazy. They felt like there was to many changes going on at once. Moving
to a different continent, and leaving friends and family was way too much for
the young teens. As time passed Jojo and Hannah got to know their family
better. The girls met new people, and they made friends. Everyone they knew was
so friendly! Jojo and Hannah couldn't believe how fast they fell in love with
the country. The best part of the summer experience for Jojo and Hannah was
seeing their father? Can you believe it had been about nine and a half years
since they saw their father John. Hannah and Jojo were so excited. The two
girls could finally say daddy! Before Jojo knew it, it was time to go
back to school. Anne, Hannah, and Jojo were sad when they had to say bye to
everyone. Summer break was coming to an end soon so the two girls and their
mother returned to their home in Kampala. The girls got school supplies and
prepared themselves for school. The twelve year old girl, Jojo was so scared to
go to school in Africa, she didn't know what to expect. Her ten year old sister
Hannah was excited; she couldn’t wait to meet new people. The first day was
only a day away.
The first day of school was finally here. Hannah got ready
fast, I took my time because I was so nervous. Anne dropped her two daughters
off at Heritage International School. Hannah went straight to her class with a
smile. On the other hand Jojo felt so lost a. While she was walking to her home
room class she bumped into a girl named Smiley. “Sorry about that. Are you new,
I've never seen you around here." "Yes I'm a new student. My name is
Jojo, I'm in seventh grade." "My name is Smiley, I'm also starting
seventh grade. We can be friends!" Jojo felt less stressed because she had
just made a friend. Smiley was a very nice girl. She helped Jojo get around;
she even helped her make some friends. During the month of November the school
had an event called Rain Festival. It was basically a big party for the whole
school. Funny enough it was on Jojo's birthday. She turned thirteen on November
fifth. Jojo was so excited because she got gifts but it wasn’t about the gifts,
she was just thankful to have loyal friends to party with. She was at ease when
she realized how great her friends were. Jojo even got a boyfriend who made her
extremely happy. He always knew what to say to make her laugh, even when she
was crying. Her boyfriend hugged her and he wasn’t afraid to say I was his
girlfriend when other students asked him. Charles was the perfect guy for Jojo.
The new girl from Florida was living a dream. Jojo loved her school. She loved
to go on school trips. The seventh grade went for a middle school retreat. They
also went to a rhino sanctuary for a few days. Soon June returned and it was
summer break again. Sadly Charles was leaving Uganda and this made Jojo so sad.
It's a good thing she had Smiley and other friends to help her move on. Summer
break was so fun for Jojo and Hannah. Their mother Anne sent them to South
Africa. The girls had so much fun in Johannesburg. They got the opportunity to
visit the family that lived there. They had an exquisite time. Going on crazy
rides, shopping, and taking random pictures. It was like heaven. Jojo was both
happy and sad when she had to start eighth grade. She was so happy to see her
friends from the year before and she got to make new buddies. The school year
was going by so fast. As time flew by Jojo started to realize she was losing
control of her strength. Her performance in school was also becoming a problem.
The weirdest change was Jojo began to stutter. It was very hard for her to stay
focused no matter how hard she tried. By Jojo's birthday both her
teachers and friends began to worry. Her weight began to drop and her strength
was going. It was strange to see Jojo in this condition because she was
athletic the year before. One day during physical education Jojo and her
classmates had a race. When she completed the race she had a seizure. She was taken
to the nurse to lay down. Anne was called to pick her daughter up. The
fourteen year old girl started getting seizures out of the blue. Her family was
aware she was epileptic but nothing like this had ever happened. The seizures
got so bad that Jojo would lose control of her body during class. Sometimes
she'd fall on the floor and have sevral episodes. Her mother decided to take
her out of school. Jojo began to have eight to ten episodes a day. Anne found a
neurologist near home. He tried to help but the treatment Mr. Nelson gave
Jojo were not helping. It's like her brain had gone insane.
As soon as her younger sister Hannah finished sixth grade Anne and her
two daughters flew to New Jersey to seek some help. Everyone was confused, and
worried. Jojo began to get better slowly. Since Jojo seemed fine Anne and her
two daughters decided to tour around Broadway. Jojo's brain fooled her once
again. After walking around for sometime Anne and her two girls took a
train just to do something different. They got off the train and spotted a
place where they could sit down and relax. Anne, and the two girls got an
escalator. Anne turned to check on Jojo and she was having another seizure.
Jojo was going to fall and bang her head. Anne got on down to block her fall.
Jojo landed on her mothers lap. When the tree females sat down Anne's back was
in pain, Hannah was tearing, and Jojo was dizzy. A stranger spotted the three
females and Anne, Jojo, and Hannah were taken to a hospital instantly. The
doctors did everything they could to keep Jojo stable. When Jojo was discharged
she went home with her family. Jojo, Hannah, and their mother went to Lake Mary
Florida. After a few days Jojo became unstable once again. Hannah, and her
mother couldn't take it anymore. They were tiered of babysitting Jojo and
seeing her in bad conditions. No one could predict when the next seizure was
going to appear. Jojo was taken to Orlando Hospital to see a neurologist named
Dr.Lee. The fourteen year old girl was taken to a hospital room. "Are you
sure this is a hospital. It looks more like a five star hotel,” Jojo said. The
room had an adjustable flat screen TV with the latest movies, as well as Wi-Fi.
The hospital had excellent services.
While Jojo, Hannah, and Anne sat, Jojo was called to take a few
tests and MRI's. It took a while for everything to be completed. When Jojo and
Dr.Lee came back he told the three ladies to go back home and he would figure
out the problem with Jojo's brain. Hannah had to begin school because summer was
over. The good thing is that she loved the school right away. After a few days,
Dr.Lee. Jojo, and her mother were heading to the hospital again. Dr.Lee and his
partner took us to a dark room. The two doctors said " Jojo stay
strong." She was curious and anxious about what the doctors would say. The
doctors began to play a film. Jojo began to tear because the film that had just
ended was someone having a seizure. This was the first time she saw a seizure,
but what made it so hard to stay strong was when the doctors said, "Jojo
the person you just saw was you." My mom knew that the last time I was
taking the tests in hospital they were recording me. Jojo was in so much pain.
Jojo broke down. After seeing that film Dr.Lee and his partner asked Anne and
her daughter, "Do you want to stop those seizures from happening?"
They both said yes. There was a moment of silence. The doctors told Jojo
that she needed multiple brain surgeries. Jojo began to cry and her mother
whispered, "Shhh it's ok." The doctors looked at each other and
said "we can reduce your seizures but it's a big risk because its either
life or death." When Jojo's family found out they were devastated.
Everyone told Anne not to do it. Jojo's seizures got worse and Hannah and Anne
could see Jojo was slowly drifting away. " My daughter is slowly dyeing,
we have to do something. If surgery can reduce Jojo's seizures she has to go
through surgery." Everyone was tiered of seeing Jojo suffering with her
surgeries.
August 27th 2012 was the day. Jojo was getting brain surgery.
While she was waiting to be taken into the theater, she looked around and
everyone around her was sad. The nurse came into the room and gave Jojo
laughing gas, and into the theater she went. She had to go to the theater three
times. It's as if it was a routine for her. The first operation Jojo's scull
was removed and wires were put in her head. This was done so doctors could
measure the electric shocks in her brain. The second procedure the wires were
removed and a bad piece of her brain was detected. Jojo's mother and sister
were told. Dr.Lee also mentioned that if that small part of her brain was
removed her seizures could reduce. Operating on her brain would help but if a
mistake was made Jojo would be mute or def. Jojo's Mother had a hard a hard
decision to make. Jojo's family was losing hope, but they kept praying for her.
September 6th 2012 she was discharged from hospital. Everyone was so relieved
when they herd Jojo was fine. She was weak and no appetite. But Jojo was alive!
Hannah was looking after her because, Anne worked for United Nations. Six
to eight months went by.
Now Jojo was so
much better than she was.
Jojo is my nickname, Joannah Bwomezi. I'm proud to say I’m a 15year old
girl who is better. Yes, my family and I went through so much but they are the
ones that were, and are still by my side. I began to doubt The Lord when I went
through all those procedures. Know I know that God never let's his children go.
Thank you Lord
