By CHRISTINE MWAABA –

THE sleepless nights that Rebecca Nyirenda used to spend worrying about where she would get money to help her seek medical attention are now a thing of the past.
Today the 15-year- old girl whose story has touched many is now assured of getting treatment because of the many Good Samaritans who have come to her aid after her story appeared in the Times of Zambia of June 15, 2015.
Rebecca has had a mysterious condition  of a bloated stomach for the past two years.
What one sees now is bliss on Rebecca and her parents’ faces  as they now know that the medical condition that their daughter has had since grade five will finally be treated.
Rebecca’s plight was heard by benefactors who have helped her so that she achieves her dream of leading a normal life.
Until last week, Rebecca and her parents had been looking for K1, 000 which was required for her medical examinations at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH).
However, some benefactors, who included Anthony Mumba, donated K5, 000 towards Rebecca’s medical bills as well as education expenses as she will be writing her grade seven exams in the next three months.
Mr Mumba was compelled to help the girl because of the will she has shown to complete her education despite the stigma she is going through.
“My family and I decided to help Rebecca because in one way or the other she is my daughter as well and hence we feel obliged to help her,” Mr Mumba said
Mr Mumba also gave Rebecca’s mother, who sells fruits on the streets K1, 000 to boost her business.
Continental Labour Based Road Contractors Limited executive director Mwamba George Kakana donated K3, 000 towards Rebecca’s medical expenses, among other things.
“I learnt from my parents to give, to be kind, to help and support those who deserve what God has granted me. So why can’t I share with the little girl?”
He urged Rebecca’s parents to use the money for its intended purpose.
Mr Kakana, is a keen reader of the Times of Zambia and has come forward to help several needy people financially upon reading the stories the newspaper has published.
Another helper, who did not want to be identified, donated K1,000 and offered Rebecca’s father Innocent Nyirenda a job to enable him to meet other costs that may arise during or after the medical procedure.
Mohamed Aziz of Ndola also donated K1, 000 to the noble cause.
This author made a follow up on Tuesday after the first K5,000 was donated and found Rebecca at the UTH being attended to.
Unfortunately her file could not be traced and she was told to go back the following day (June 23) to start medical examinations.
Rebecca’s father said the family would forever treasure the support received from readers of the Times of Zambia.
“I am speechless. The only thing I can ask from God is to bless every hand that has helped my family,” Mr Nyirenda said.