Kenyan Woman Shares Last Photo She Took of Smiling Daughter at JKIA Before She Died Abroad
- Stephanie Shantel took a photo of her daughter at JKIA with hopes of capturing a beautiful “before and after” moment
- However, what followed was a return home with a temporary travel coffin after the young girl died abroad
- The grieving mother stumbled upon the image years later and screamed, as the smile in the photo now tells a story of heartbreak
A Kenyan woman, Stephanie Shantel, has shared a deeply emotional post about a photo she now wishes she had never taken.
Source: TikTok
In a post on TikTok, she disclosed that the haunting memory resurfaced unexpectedly while browsing through her Google Photos.
Stephanie hopes for triumphant return
The now-heartbreaking image, taken before a medical trip abroad, was supposed to be part of a hopeful story.
Stephanie had envisioned doing a "before and after treatment" series, a triumphant return to Kenya, complete with a symbolic “Karibu KE” photo to mark recovery and renewal.
But life took a cruel turn.
“When I arrived at the airport with a temporary travel coffin, I immediately remembered this photo,” Stephanie wrote. “She’s smiling here, but if I’m being honest, this photo makes me so angry.”
Daughter's smile now haunts Stephanie
The smile in the photo, meant to be a symbol of hope, now cuts deep.
Stephanie's words reveal the pain of losing someone she loved dearly, someone who never got to complete the journey back home alive.
“Oh, what a beautiful story I would have had if we got the chance to come back alive, my baby,” she wrote, her grief pouring through every line.
The image, once full of promise, now stands as a painful reminder of love, loss, and the cruel unpredictability of life.
Source: TikTok
Social media reactions
Her story struck a chord with Kenyans on social media, who took to the comments section to share their condolences.
June
"She is with you in everything you do, but this time she is not in pain anymore, but healed, just in a different time. May the days get lighter for you, mama."
JoyAnne Kimani
"Ooooh my goodness! Hugs, mum. I pray God to give you strength during this difficult time."
Savedbygrace
"My son, too, battled aplastic anaemia around the same time. May God give you this supernatural strength to get through this loss. It's very painful."
brooklyn baby🎀😽
"What a beautiful girl. She knew she was loved. She was brave for you, mama, she needs you to be brave for her now.;"
2legit2trip
"You never lost, our bodies are temporary. Some last a little longer, and some don't last long at all. But you created a pure love, and her light was able to shine brighter than any star."
Nandi girl dies after 2 weeks in Australia
In another heartbreaking story, Madeline Jeruto travelled to South Australia for further studies, but fell ill after two weeks.
She continued to experience health struggles despite being taken to the hospital for treatment.
The Nandi lady, unfortunately, passed away while undergoing treatment, forcing the family to seek financial help to repatriate her body.
Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
