Last week, I shared a story about my grandma. She passed away a few years ago at the age of hundred and three years, which is a rare feat in our generation. A few months before her death, she experienced paralysis on her entire left side.

She could neither walk nor take care of herself. She depended on her daughters and son to take care of her. She needed someone to clean her in the morning. Then, they would prepare new clothes, organise food, and let her rest.

She would need someone else in the afternoon to help her with her toilet needs. They would also clean her and organise lunch for her. Then she would need another person to organise something for dinner. And the circle would repeat the next day.

These routines affected everyone during the months she was stuck indoors. Organising her transfer to hospital was hard, so a doctor was supposed to come and attend to her at home.

During this period, the pressure and burden fell on everyone, and it had a significant impact on them. I saw many times when her children argued because someone didn’t do their duty on time.

At times, I noticed how they took out their anger on Grandma. It was for things she did or didn’t do when she was well. I felt that the longer things stayed the same or worsened, the more drama, friction, and conflict arose.

Now that was only one aspect of her being sick and needing attention and time. The other burden was financial. These families still had to go out to make money and use some for their own family, kids, and goals. Then they still had to make sure they kept enough to take care of grandma.

Often, they would ask other relatives for help. Sometimes, they even turned to us grandkids for support.

Their lives were not stable enough to say they had savings to sustain them. My grandma was a farmer, and her income and food relied heavily on her health and mobility. Her children didn’t get an education. So, they had to leave home to earn a living through minor jobs or businesses.

The entire situation created an unending mess for everyone. I was not very close to the mess, but I could sense the heat from time to time. They often asked to use my car to take grandma to the hospital because she was not well. Dozens of times they would call early in the morning or late at night requesting money for food or drugs.

Now that is all pressure that we faced or felt. We never had a chance to have the conversation with Grandma on how the entire situation affected her. How did she feel being out of control and relying on others? This was new for her.

Well, it is easy to say that she was old enough to somehow be at peace with her time. Let’s talk about us. We’re young and healthy, but any sickness could really shake our lives.

If you’re employed, your boss will set a limit on your sick leave. So, you won’t have all the time you need to stay at home and recover. You will be easily replaced if you stay longer than the allowed policy.

If you’re self-employed, you likely haven’t created a big business that can run without you for more than a month. Likely most of the things happen when you appear. Your business will die if you stay longer than normal because of an extended sickness.

Now that is the physical presence of your life. What about your financials?

What is your current saving amount?

What type of healthy issue do you think your savings account can handle?

How long can that savings account last?

And that is about you; what about your loved ones?

Many of us and our loved ones face financial struggles. Even when we’re healthy, things can feel just as tense and dramatic as what I saw with my grandmother.

Either you are interested or not, the topics about money and health are going to impact you.

It is important to spend time and plan for your money and health. Create enough savings for emergencies and health issues. Practice as many healthy habits as you can. And create as much wealth as you can to weather the storm when it comes, because it will come.

#iThinkSo

May you be happy.

May you be healthy.

May you be free from suffering.

May you find peace and joy.

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Rogers “Ronn Dinero” Katuma

Chieftain, Financial Artist and Storyteller

Mphami Estate