Denmark-based model,Sharry Lusule soldiers on despite grief & scars

By Shirley Genga

Last year began with so many possibilities for Sharry Lusule, 26, an international model. Her modelling career in Denmark was doing well; she was booking shows and ad campaigns from New York to Milan, Paris, Denmark, Sweden, Austria, Greece and London.

She was also in her third year of Engineering at the University Copenhagen.  To crown it all, she met the love of her life and fiancé Mike Obure.

Everything was going so well it could not get better. She shares the journey of her life and the sudden brutal twist of fate that changed her life forever.

“Ever since I moved to Denmark in 2007, I always made an effort to come back home at least thrice a year to visit my family. Early March last year, while visiting Kenya, I met Mike who was then a manager at Java, Upper Hill, where I was a regular client. He was always trying to hit on me, but I was not interested because I was recovering from a break up. After a few weeks, I finally gave him a chance.”

A whirlwind-romance

The two began dating officially end of March.

“I went back to Denmark in April, but I missed Mike so much and was back in June for the summer break and stayed until September. It was a whirlwind-romance; the best relationship I have ever been in. In the eight months that we dated, I felt complete peace and joy because he was truly the one for me. Mike was the first man I introduced to my family, and he also introduced me to his,” says Sharry.

Sharry left for Denmark in late September but came back in October for a week to say goodbye to family and friends for the year, so that she could concentrate on her exams at the end of the year.

She planned to return to Kenya in January this year after doing her exams. However, the model came back in November because Mike had insisted that she could not spend both her birthday and Christmas alone in Denmark.

Fateful Saturday

“Mike begged me to at least come back for one, my birthday or Christmas. She flew back into the country on November 15 in preparation for her birthday, which was on November 27. I had missed Mike so much and it was so nice to be back home. Life was perfect, or so I thought,” says Sharry.

The fateful day — November 24, last year — began just like any other day filled with promise.

The model recalls:  “It was a normal Saturday except that for the first time since I had known Mike, he was off duty that day. He was free and he insisted I take him to the gym. Afterwards, he asked me to take him to go watch an Arsenal game at a pub,” says Sharry.

“When the game ended, we went for dinner. There was then another Manchester United game playing on television, and he begged me to stay and watch the game with him. I agreed because I did not want to be the annoying girlfriend who spoils the fun. When the game was over, I wanted to go home but Mike insisted we go to Galileos Lounge on Waiyaki Way, where we stayed until around 9:30pm.”

On their way home to Fedha Estate on Mombasa Road, the unthinkable happened.

Sharry recalls painfully: “We were headed towards Panari Hotel and I was the one driving when a track came from Likoni Road near Winners Chapel and branched onto the highway. For some reason, the truck began driving towards us. I swerved to give the truck space to pass, but the car lost control. From then on, I have no recollection of what happened,” says Sharry.

The next thing she remembers is waking up in the ward at the Kenyatta National Hospital.

“Mike was on a bed next to me and I remember he held my hand and assured me that we would be fine.  I had injured my left hand, my back and my forehead badly and was in bandages. I had a muscle spasm on my back. I could not walk or stand. Mike seemed okay but by Sunday afternoon, he had lost feeling in both his feet and legs, he only had sensations in his upper body,” the model recalls with a tinge of sadness.

Lost litres of blood

Sharry’s parents organised for her to be moved to Nairobi Hospital for specialised treatment while Mike was taken to MP Shah.

“I had lost three litres of blood, and so I was immediately taken to ICU on Sunday. Mike’s family made plans to move him to MP Shah Hospital but before he was moved on Monday morning, he called me. He told me he was fine and that he loved me. He was moved to MP Shah in the evening. Unfortunately, he died later that night but no one had the courage to tell me”.

The following day was Sharry’s birthday and she celebrated it with family and friends in hospital.

“During my birthday, I insisted on calling Mike but my family kept insisting I would talk to him later. So many of my friends and family came to celebrate my birthday with me, everything seemed perfect again,” she continues.

She was finally told the tragic news on Thursday; three days after Mike had died. She was devastated.

“A hospital counsellor told me as my family surrounded my bed. I was already in so much pain from my injuries, then this news, I just went numb,” remembers Sharry in tears.

 Because Sharry was unable to travel to Mike’s burial upcountry, his family organised a service at Consolata Church so she could bid him farewell.

“I attended the funeral while in bandages all over and I could barely walk. It was the worst day of my life,” says Sharry.

 “After the funeral, I stayed in hospital for two and a half months recuperating. I was heartbroken, in shock and at the same time trying to get well. My family and friends kept me going through that healing period.  I left hospital in January this year,” she continues.

Painful as it maybe, Sharry is now taking one day at a time.

Like a phoenix rising from the ashes but with wounded wings, she soldiers on one step at a time, trying to move on without Mike — the love of her life.