IWC welcomes our new Hospitality Coordinator Kabibi Bamuamba! We met Kabibi when she first arrived in the United States and applied for asylum. She speaks three languages; we are thrilled she is now part of our staff. Here is a little about her background and professional experience in her own words:
“I am Mushiya Kabibi Bamuamba. I am a hospitality coordinator at IWC in San Antonio, TX. I was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo. I have a bachelor’s degree in Hospital Administration from Institut Supérieur de Technique Médicale in Kinshasa, DRC. I also have a certificate in Social Work Assistance from Lux College in South Africa.
I have about 12 years of experience with social service organizations. As a former Asylum Seeker, I understand the stress and suffering of how hard it can be for individuals and families who are in the process of seeking asylum.
That’s why I would like to provide respectful, kind, and meaningful services to all newcomers so that they can have a success story to share with others and try to leave a smile on every guest that we serve.”
IWC Volunteer Jo Pendleton penned this story about Kabibi:
It was November of 2020, and the Pedro family was facing a difficult decision about one of their twins in the NICU, who were each born weighing less than 2 lbs. Having endured two surgeries to correct a hole in his intestines, little Anderson had been fed through a nasal tube since their birth in August. The doctors wanted to perform another surgery to put a feeding tube directly into his stomach, with which he could go home to continue his transition to regular oral feeding.
Juliana, his mother, met this recommendation with resistance. She and the father didn’t want yet another surgery on their little boy and weren’t convinced it was necessary. So I asked Kabibi, who speaks Lingala, to come and talk with them (I thought) to try to convince them that this was the best and only choice. Little did I know.
After we went into their home and introductions were made, we all sat down, and Bibi suggested that we pray first. We bowed our heads, and Bibi began to sing in Lingala. Pedro and Juliana joined right away, singing so beautifully together as though they were friends from way back. Then Bibi prayed for them and the babies for strength, wisdom, and courage. Holy moments.
They made small talk, getting-acquainted-talk for a while, and then turned their attention to Anderson. While I couldn’t understand anything they said, what was clear was that Kabibi did understand and that she was a gifted listener & communicator. It was also clear that Juliana understood the medical situation, had enormous strength as a mother, and believed that she and Pedro could best help Anderson learn to take food orally. This mother was eloquent, passionate, and intense. She was frustrated that the medical team seemed to think that she was ignorant and knew little about the care of her babies.
In the end, Kabibi and the Pedros made it clear that they could be entirely capable of encouraging Anderson toward regular feeding, with love, frequent feedings, and much patience – the three ingredients that the wonderful, highly skilled nurses could not provide. They had many babies to care for and understandably had to keep to a schedule. We encouraged Juliana to request that the feeding tube be disconnected at least while they were there and available to do more frequent oral feeding to give Anderson a chance to be hungry.
The mother’s wisdom was correct, and within a month, both twins were home and thriving. Today, they are happy, healthy 3-year-olds, walking and talking, and we are all grateful for the blessing of Kabibi, the doctors and nurses at University Hospital, and those two phenomenal parents and big sister.
