An inspirational South African was diagnosed with a terminal illness and given only a few months to live. She decided to dedicate her last days to helping others.
This is Lerina Stander’s story.
How would you spend your last days if you had an incurable disease that would take your life in a few months? Lerina Stander went through this. A young nurse from South Africa, Lerina spent 3 months on the ADRA-Adventist Help project in northern Iraq.
“The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is the global humanitarian organization of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Through an international network, ADRA delivers relief and development assistance to individuals in more than 130 countries—regardless of their ethnicity, political affiliation, or religious association. By partnering with communities, organizations, and governments, ADRA is able to improve the quality of life of millions through 9 impact areas.”
Lerina had a terminal illness and the doctors had given her the prognosis of just a few months to live.
When she heard about the ADRA – Adventist Help new project in Iraq, to provide medical care to refugees from Mosul, she immediately enlisted as a volunteer.
She helped to plan and build the ADRA Adventist Help Emergency Unit (a small hospital) in the Hasan Sham U2 camp near Mosul while seeing patients in less optimal conditions.
At the beginning of July, when the illness began to make it difficult for her to remain in Iraq, she decided to return home to await the inevitable.
Viriato Ferreira, a friend of Lerina shared her story on Facebook with a simple message.
“Last Friday (August 18), Lerina’s physical heart beat for the last time.”
“However, it continues to beat in our hearts, as we have been touched by her friendship, dedication and hope in a better world with God. Her heart continues to beat in the hearts of so many people she helped. ADRA – Adventist Help decided to give Lerina’s name to the Emergency Service she helped to plan with care and love.”
“What about us? What are we doing with our lives?”
Days before she passed, a plaque was revealed dedicating the Emergency Room to the inspirational South African.
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Amazing!!