coastweek.com

FERIAL LOWE

DETERMINED SOCIAL AND WELFARE WORKER,
PHILANTHROPIST AND MOMBASA TEA TRADER
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Coastweek - - On the 14th February, 2003 we all lost an amazing lady - Ferial Lowe had a massive heart attack and died in hospital.

I have only known Feri for a year, but what an amazing year it has been.

Action packed!

Although she was paralysed from the waist down, in an accident which robbed her of her husband - this wonderful lady 'took on the world' with help for every person who came in contact with her - nothing was too much trouble or too difficult.

She cared so much for the poor and needy, giving her whole life for others.

She was always ready to give advice and find donors for the many sick and needy people who were always contacting her.

Coastweek - - Ferial Lowe.

I came in contact with her first when we were trying to get Sidi Kazungu overseas for extensive treatment to her badly burnt face - Feri gave me so much help getting passports organised, I/D organised, meetings with ladies from her community, financial help and her never ending hope for all the difficulties we had to endure which we conquered.

Visits to prisons to help make life for prisoners better, was one of her regular jobs.

Liason with the A.P.D.K. for people who lost a leg, help with medical cases - were all her forte. Having been involved in the medical field, she understood all the problems even before she saw them.

Advice over the phone was a norm.

We were in the process of setting up the Maisha Foundation which deals with help for injured, cancer, deformed and critically ill patients also the Red Crescent to help with medical and educational aid.

She was going to escort a young boy to England who had been seriously injured in a road accident the day before she died.

She was talking from her hospital bed to me about taking the child to Europe - even in her condition, she was totally selfless and thought of others only -

'But first a Biriyani lunch at my house and I wonder how many Valentine cards I will get'.

She had received many beautiful flowers.

Her room at the hospital always full of friends and flowers and gifts was much to the chagrin of the nurses - but there was Feri with her ever happy smiling face - worrying about other sick people.

A very cheerful person who welcomed you into her home and her heart whenever you wanted to see her.

Always no one was ever turned away.

Because she was so charismatic, her family devoted their lives to look after her and her many projects - they gave up their jobs to help Feri.

The loss to the family and to her community is huge and to all of us in Mombasa, a sad day indeed.

A tragedy to lose such a special person in the prime of life.

She was unique.

I hope we will be able to carry on with all the projects she has pioneered and bring them to conclusion in the way she would have liked.

To her family and community, we extend our heartfelt sympathy and hope they will all gather strength from the life of this amazing person.

- Allison Jauss, Vipingo, Mombasa.

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SHE HELPED THOUSANDS OF
NEEDY AND IMPAIRED PEOPLE

Coastweek - - When I heard from Allison Jauss that Ferial Lowe had died on Feb. 14 - Valentine's Day - my initial reaction was one of great shock and the great loss it will be to the many disabled, disfigured and other impaired people still needing her help, writes NETA PEAL.

But I was cheered by the thought that on that day Ferial was, perhaps, on her way to meet her Valentine, Don.

I remember Ferial as a very efficient nurse in the medical practice of surgeon, Mr. Jewell, then later becoming Africa's only lady Tea Buyer.

Her husband, Don, who was in the tea business died in a car crash leaving Ferial badly injured and unable to walk.

She was completely devastated by his death and in a wheelchair flung herself into humanitarian work also as a means of filling the aching gap left by his absence.

Ferial has already been described as Mombasa's 'Mother 'Theresa'.

Coastweek - - Ferial Lowe.

She has helped thousands of needy and impaired people towards a better life as well as many charities and causes.

It was to Ferial that Allison Jauss turned when seeking help for Sidi Kazungu who after falling face first into a fire when cooking at her home in Shariani, Kilifi, was left badly disfigured.

Coming from a poverty stricken family there was no money to go abroad and seek more specialised treatment.

Between them and with the help of other good-hearted folk they managed to get a leading hospital in London to repair Sidi's face.

She is staying with Mrs. Jauss's daughter, Tracy, in the UK and latest reports say she is doing well.

Just one example of Ferial's 'helping hand' at work.

FERIAL LOWE WAS A QUITE
EXCEPTIONAL HUMAN BEING

Coastweek - - This is a belated tribute to a grand lady, Mrs. Ferial Lowe, who passed away suddenly in February this year.

Her untimely death is a loss to all of us who had the privilege of knowing her.

I recall a time almost nineteen years ago when she was on Mr. John Jewell's team.

Both Ferial and John Jewell exuded kindness, affection and great caring for their patients. Their very modest surgery was then at the Motor Mart Building.

I have never known Ferial not to smile.

I recall the devastating car accident Ferial and her husband suffered near Voi, when she lost her husband, and Ferial was partially paralysed.

Nevertheless despite such terrible odds and many setbacks, Ferial pursued a life of great magnanimity by working as a benefactor for the poor and underprivileged folks in Mombasa.

She was undeterred by events in her own tragic life and never made a great issue of it.

Her smile was there, always, and that is how I will always remember her.

May she rest in peace as we mourn the passing of an exceptional human being.

- Cahil Marduf, Mombasa.

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FERIAL LOWE TAUGHT US THE
LESSONS OF LIFE

Coastweek - - While going through a recent issue of Coastweek, I was shocked to learn the death of Mrs. Ferial Lowe.

I knew her for a long time in doing bussiness with her and her great support to Mji wa Salama (Child Welfare Society, Mombasa) where I was a treasurer.

She was an exceptional lady, always with smile and cracking jokes.

I still remember when she had a terrible accident when she lost both, her husband and her legs and I thought it would be the end of her world !

She fought bravely, had artificial legs and through moving around with her wheelchair, took control of her husband's tea business and when I met her then I never expected a smile on her face, the smile and the joyful spirit she always had till the end.

She has taught us a lesson, that through all problems in life, keep up your spirit, never cry, look forward in life, and do something for less unfortunate people.

- Surendra Lakhani, Edison, U.S.A.