For 10 months, musician Edith WeUtonga braved an emotional burden and staged shows for her fans’ sake.
By Silence Charumbira
She smiled on stage and expertly strummed her bass guitar as if all was well, yet her heart was aching.
Although her passion for music came first since she was young, motherhood became the leading role that demanded her attention, especially when she gave birth to her son Madalitso 10 months ago.
Madalitso was born with a hole in his heart and WeUtonga knew she was obliged to do something to save her son.
The condition, known as Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD), was a serious cause of concern for the musician. One day, she decided she would rather let go of her career to save Madalitso. WeUtonga put her guitar up for auction to raise money to finance Madalitso’s heart surgery.
She needed US$15 000 for the surgery to be conducted in India. After a performance at a fundraising dinner, she surrendered her guitar to her audience for anything that would save Madalitso.
Two prominent individuals in the country were touched by WeUtonga’s plight, and she managed to raise US$1 300 that night. The well-wishers that had bought the guitar retuned it to the musician because they knew its value in her creative world. They also knew the tough time that WeUtonga endured because of Madalitso’s aliment.
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The fundraising dinner kick-started a relief journey for WeUtonga. In a few weeks, she managed to raise the needed amount for her son’s surgery and Madalitso went through a successful surgery in India on Monday.
Speaking to Standard Life&Style from India last week the musician said the operation went well.
“I got here on Wednesday last week and the baby went into surgery on Monday,” she said.
“I can’t say it’s been a walk in the park being here by myself, considering he is in the Intensive Care Unit.
“The operation went well and he spent the first night breathing with the aid of a machine and but he later improved. The following day he saw me and recognised me. He cried. I almost cried but the doctors said he would be fine.”
