The late Paul Cheuchi (Njima) Kihungi of Lowell, Mass. pic by Family File
by Harrison Maina, Ajabu Africa, posted July 30, 2011
LOWELL, Mass., –A young Kenyan man resident of Lowell Massachusetts passed away on Tuesday July 26th at the Tufts medical center in Boston after a short illness.
Paul Cheuchi (Njima) Kihungi, 23, passed away peacefully surrounded by his surviving family of one brother and three sisters who all live in Massachusetts.
With his father and mother living in central Kenya, the devastated family is pleading with the Kenyan community in the USA for funds to transport the body back home for a burial that would provide closure for all.
Consequently, a fund raising event has been scheduled to take place at the Saint Stephens church in Lowell on Sunday August 7th starting at 3pm for friends and relatives in Lowell and Boston areas and a separate event on the same day at the Hosanna Gospel Center Worcester 120 Stafford Street, Worcester MA for friends and relatives in the Worcester area.
According to family sources, the late Kihungi was airlifted to the Tufts medical center in Boston mid last month from the Saint’s medical center in Lowell after suffering a serious cardiac arrest.
The sudden illness occurred barely a day before the late Kihungi was scheduled to be discharged from the Saints Memorial Medical Center where he had been admitted for 3 weeks after suffering from severe chest pains.
“Our brother suffered a cardiac arrest one day before he was to be discharged from Saints medical hospital. He was resuscitated and med freighted to Tufts Medical Center in Boston where he stayed for about a month., before passing away on Tuesday July 26 2011”, said his elder brother, Simon Kihungi a.k.a Jeusi while talking to Ajabu Africa News.
The late Kihungi at the Mass. Hospital School in Canton
According to the late Kihungi’s family, the deceased suffered a debilitating muscular dystrophy disease at age 13, two years after he arrived in the USA in 2001.
The sudden disease caused the late Kihungi’s lower limbs powerless so he could not walk or support his upper body, which confined him to a life in an electric wheel chair at an early age.
However, the disease did not take away the love of life that the late Kihungi had.
He enrolled as a student in Burncoat High School where he studied for 2 years before his health condition took a toll on him forcing him to drop out. After one year out of school, the late Kihungi was admitted into the Mass. Hospital School in Canton Massachusetts as a special needs child in 2006 at age 16.
It was while in Canton that the late Kihungi got a good chance at exploring and living out his interests in life.
According to family sources, the late Kihungi excelled in wheel chair assisted soccer games and was heavily involved in dance and music club.
His love for life and friendly nature expanded his travels to many states meeting many of his favorite celebrities like 50 Cents, and Lil Wayne among others.
In Nov. 2009 Paul yet achieved one of his many dreams…..a trip to Disney World Florida, and was further scheduled to go to China in 2012 to represent Mass Hospital School in Canton for an International Power Soccer competition tournament.
The late Kihungi during his High School graduation
After graduating from High School at age 21 years, the late Kihungi was transferred to a group home run by the M H Association of Greater Lowell in Dracut. He also attended the Till Inc.’s Day Rehabilitation center in Billerica where he made more friends and participated in various other activities.
“At 23 Paul had done so much with his life, and been to so many places that many only dream about”, said his elder brother, Jeusi.
Many Kenyans who congregated at his family’s apartment on 105 Felker Street in Lowell described the late Kihungi as a God fearing young man who was fun-loving with an incredible zest for life.
As soon as he arrived in the US at age11, the late Kihungi plunged without fear into the new school system in Worcester, where he lived with his sister, Anne Kihungi (Mama Allan).
“Acquiring a High School Diploma was one of his goals in life which he achieved.
Not even his health could deter Paul from enjoying life to the fullest”, said Anne Kihungi, one of his elder sisters.
According to family sources quoting his group home manager, the late Kihungi had a lot of friends there and “had an incredible time and loved taking many pictures with friends.”
The manager added that Kihungi liked to pursue a career in filmmaking and was an avid sports fan. “He watched the Celtics play at the TD Bank Center, and was a die- hard Red Sox fan attending games at Fenway Park in Boston”, the group home manage was quoted as saying.
Although he lived in a group home and enjoyed spending time with his two room mates, Sam and Jon, the late Kihungi loved his family even more and looked forward to going home every Friday, where he would spend the weekend until Sunday night.
The brother of the late Paul Kihungi, Simon Kihungi a.k.a Jeusi, his wife, Faith Ngige and their son, Ethan Kihungi.
“He always looked forward to coming home over the weekend. He loved to play games with his nephews, take them to the park, play with his PS3 at home or go to the beach to enjoy scenes undeterred by his deteriorating health condition,” said his sister, Martha Kihungi.
Talking to Ajabu Africa on the urgent need for burial funds, Simon Kangethe, who is a co-chairman of the funeral committee in Lowell together with Steven Mwangi Ngaruiya in Worcester, urged all Kenyans in the area and their friends who knew the late Kihungi and those who didn’t, to rally around the family at this time of need and give generously to assist with the burial funds.
“We are pleading for funds so that we can send Paul to his final resting place in Kenya,” said Kangethe.
“Please come and help us honor this young man who although he will be missed by many, and although he went too soon, he achieved a lot of his dreams and will be remembered by many for his positive approach to life.” he added.
The late Kihungi hails from Engineer village in Kinangop Division in Nyandarua District in Central Province of Kenya.
Sisters to the late The late Paul Kihungi, Monica Njeri. left, and Martha Njoki, both of Lowell, MA
Prayers are taking place daily in Lowellat 105 Felker Street Ma Apt #3 Lowell MA 01852 and in Worcester at 380 Sounderland Road Apt # 6A starting at 7pm.
A wake ceremony will be held on August 8th 2011, at 6pm Morse-Bayliss Funeral Home. Address 122 Princeton BLVD Lowell Mass 01851.
Well wishers who can not make it to any of the two fund raising events in Lowell or Worcester are requested to send donations to a designated Bank account at:
Jeanne D'ARC Credit Union Routing: 211383846
Checking A/C: 9997580981 Attention: Joseph Ngugi (Committee Treasurer)
For more information call: Contacts
Simon Kihungi (Jeusi) 978-305-0042
Martha Njoki Kihungi 978-601-3810
Anne Nyairegi Kihungi (Mama Allan) 508-667-9910
Marina Njeri Kihingi (Titi) 857-277-2149
Steven Mwangi Ngaruiya 774-641-8624
Simon K Gitau 978-726-8265
Elisha Karanja 978-490-7248
Gladys Wanja Muhia 774) 670-7622
Florence Wanja Kangethe 978-761-8263
Georgina Wanja Waweru 774-242-4950
Pastor Rev. Joseph Waiyaki 978-996-3657
Pastor Rev. Samuel Kimohu 978-996-0434
Pastor Rev. David Kahura ( H.G. Center Worcester )
John Njenga 978-869-0708
Peter Ndungu (Doctor) 978-328-8761
John Njoroge 978-390-0958
Prayer meetings are being held daily at 7pm in
Lowell at
105 Felker Street Ma Apt #3 Lowell MA 01852.
Phone 978-601-3810. Contact Martha Njoki Kihungi or
Simon Kihungi (Jeusi) 978-305-0042 Marina Kihungi 857-277-2149
AND AT Worcester:
380 Sounderland Road Apt #6A
Phone Number Steven Mwangi Ngaruiya 774-641-8624 or
Ann Kihungi 508-667-9910
AJABU AFRICAN AWARDS NOMINATIONS DEADLINE 2 DAYS AWAY!. Nominate Someone Now !! Click here >>>>>>
