When you're me and you find out your dad has prostate cancer...

you're relieved for a second that his going missing all this time doesn't mean he's dead, than it hits you. Prostate cancer in a third world country! The person suffering from it is broke, too, so what are his chances, realistically? Oh, God! my dad is going to die, and I am helpless to do anything about it, because I am  broke myself. How did this happen?

God, you can't do this to me. You can't do this to him. This isn't fair! Being the realist that you are, you realize that life has never been fair. He can't go now. He has to watch me become a rich, successful journalist and shed light on the problems affecting my continent. He'd love that! He's someone that's always been very patriotic. He has to be there to give me away at the wedding. He has to be there when I finally go back to Zimbabwe, to tell me stories of himself, of my heritage, of my continent, of my country, of his life when he was married to mum, of me. He still has to see one of his children doing something for him, like buy him a house with everything in it. So you see, dad, you have so much to live for. I know life has been cruel to you. That was only supposed to be temporary, you're going to live like a king once I succeed.

You're supposed to be there when I do my documentary about finding out about my heritage. I never once imagined that I would be one of those people saying: "This one's for you dad" when accepting my awards for journalism. This changes everything. I have to make money to bring him here for treatment. How long will that take, though? Will this happen on time? I don't even have a job at the moment, so I am worried.

Right now I'm just crying. I haven't stopped since I learnt the news earlier this morning. I heard the news, then slept shortly after that and dreamt that this had never happened. I dreamt that we had found you, but the reason we didn't know where you were all this time was because you were too broke to go to the internet Cafe. That was a good dream, that was a relieving dream, because if it was just that, we'd send some money and you'd be fine. Please God, give me time. More time with him, more time to get money, and more time to get proper treatment started.