Alexandre Nseka and his family arrived in Buffalo in October after an arduous, monthslong journey from Angola in Central Africa. His dream was to be granted asylum in the United States.
But a routine medical checkup turned up a devastating diagnosis – the father of three had advanced stage liver cancer and he would have only a few months to live.
A man of faith, he held on to hope that he would survive, said Abby Grainge, a nurse practitioner at Jericho Road Community Health Center, who treats asylum-seekers living at the Vive Shelter on Buffalo’s East Side, which Jericho operates.
At the same time, Nseka worried about what would become of his family.
He asked Grainge, “Do you think that I’m going to feel well enough to work so I can leave money for my family?” she recounted.
Nseka underwent treatment at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center but his cancer had spread too far. He died June 26 at a temporary home where his family was living during the final 10 days of his life.
Nseka’s widow, Sandra Kiabala, gave permission to Grainge to share the family’s story with The Buffalo News.
Last summer, Nseka fled Angola with his wife and their three children – two boys and a girl.
Nseka, a businessman, was fleeing from political prosecution, Vive staff said. They didn’t know the details, but saw the evidence of past torture – part of his ear was missing and he had scars on his head.
The family first fled to Brazil and then they made their way north, sometimes on foot. Their journey included trekking through the jungles of the treacherous Darien Gap in Panama to the U.S./Mexico border.
In the fall, Nseka and his family arrived at the Vive Shelter.
Vive was founded in 1984 by a group of Catholic nuns who wanted to help Central and South American asylum-seekers whom they saw living on the streets. It was first housed in a convent in Lackawanna, but for decades has been at 50 Wyoming Ave.
Jericho, which provides health care…
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