The tragic death of Desire Hegbe at age 49 in Montreal touches not only the hearts of his family, but others who carry similar hopes to the ones that brought him to Canada.
Back in Togo, Desire (pron. desi’ree) leaves his grieving and aged mother, a daughter 17 and a son 12. Also mourning his loss is his first cousin Lazare Hounnake Adele in Vancouver who has opened a Go Fund Me campaign . People can donate to help defray the heavy burden of debt the family takes on. Lazare flies to Montreal on April 4 to begin preparations to return his body to Togo so that his passing can be completed according to tradition.
Hoping
Desire Hegbe, like many hopeful would be immigrants, left all he knew, and all who cared for him. A move that proved fatal for him. He left behind his family, a 20 year career in journalism, to forge a better future for his two children. Such strength is one of the qualities of new arrivals to Canada, no matter what the circumstances of their arrival.
Their determination fills in when there is no one who can truly help a person without family, friends or offer the kind of support network of contacts and even familiarity to negotiate challenges.
Adapting
Even with 20 years of experience as a journalist and a dream of one day working for the CBC, Desire took what work he could. One or more survival jobs at any time. Uniform cleaning work. Security shifts. Work where his body, some training and common sense and limited language would suffice as he acclimatized to his new home.
Adapting to the new situation–finding anyone he could count on and seeking ways to earn a living of course took extra effort, extra commitment. Ultimately, it drained his energies.
He landed in Montreal from West Africa, the country of Togo in July 2019. He applied himself as best as he could. He and the entire world had no idea what lay in store a mere 6 months more. COVID-19 struck communities, economies and slowed mobility for everyone including the movement of papers, permissions and applications for hopeful immigrants.
He weakened from the work and isolation and living conditions. General illness dragged on for 6 months and finally he was laid low with pneumonia and finally an ambulance ride to the emergency unit. He died within the week.
This death was likely avoidable with proper care early enough – if. If he wasn’t alone. If someone was there to see that he couldn’t eat or drink, or to get basic care.
He came for better life especially for his daughter as the eldest. Circumstances meant he didn’t apply fully for his permanent residency (PR) and ran out of time and out of life to make a difference in his new home or for his children in it.
If you are reading this, perhaps you can support the Go Fund Me campaign to defray what will be lifelong costs for his family ‘back home’.
The fund to help the family was created March 20, 2022. It is located under Funerals & Memorials.
Details
French: EN VUE DE RAPARTRIER UN FRERE TOGOLAIS DENOMME DESIRE HEGBE PERE DE DEUX ENFANTS MINEURS, MORT SUBITEMENT A MONTREAL LE 18 MARS 2022. JOURNALISTE DE SON ETAT, IL VIVAIT A MONTREAL DEPUIS JUILLET 2019. DESIRE EST MORT A L’AGE DE 49 ANS EN LESSANT DERIERE SES DEUX ENFANTS ET SA VIEILLE MAMAN A LOME. NOUS VOUS INVITONS DE BIEN VOULOIR NOUS AIDER FINANCIEREMENT A COUVRIR LES FRAIS DE SON RAPARTRIEMENT AU PAYS.
English: In order to repatriate the body of recently deceased Togolese brother, Desire Hegbe, father of two children aged 17 and 12. Mr. Hegbe died suddenly in Montreal on March 18, 2022. A journalist by profession, he lived in Montreal since arriving in Canada in July 2019. Desire was 49 at the time of his death and leaves behind his two children, his aged mother.
We invite you to please help the family financially so that they can cover the expense of his repatriation expense to his country of origin.
Donate Organizer Lazare Hounnake Adele Organizer Vancouver, BC
