Family
He married the former Nomalizo Leah Shenxane, a teacher whom he had met while at college, who goes by Leah Tutu, in 1955. They have a son, Trevor, born in 1956, and three daughters: Thandeka Theresa, 1957; Naomi, 1960; and Mpho (meaning "gift"), 1963, all of whom attended the Waterford Kamhlaba School in Swaziland. His daughter, Naomi Tutu, founded the Tutu Foundation for Development and Relief in Southern Africa, based in Hartford, Connecticut. His other daughter, Mpho Tutu, in 2004 was ordained an Episcopal priest by her father. She is also the founder and executive director of the Tutu Institute for Prayer and Pilgrimage and the chairperson of the board of the Global AIDS Alliance.
Fight with TB
At the age of 14 he contracted tuberculosis and was hospitalized for 20 months.
Fight with Cancer
In 1996, Tutu was diagnosed with prostate cancer. "I had been visiting a urologist for checkups every year" Tutu said. "My urologist was happy with things. Then, in 1996, I went for a checkup and we biopsied part of the prostate. It was negative, but my PSA was high."The urologist wanted to take a closer look at the prostate and he removed a sample of it. "It came back with a growth there," Tutu said. "He [the doctor] came in the next morning and told me he had bad news. It was hard to take initially."Tutu said that the diagnosis has had many affects on his life. "Cancer is a big boogie," he said with a hearty laugh. "Almost everybody begins to think they should begin composing their obituary. But it's not true. Cancer is a good thing because it reminds us of our mortality." "It gives us perspective. Life is too short to be upset about too many things. I experience things with a new intensity: my wife's love, my grandchild's smile, a sunset. We must remember that we are not forever." he added. "We are the rainbow people of God! We are unstoppable! Nobody can stop us on our march to victory! No one, no guns, nothing! Nothing will stop us, for we are moving to freedom! We are moving to freedom and nobody can stop us!
For God is on our side!" |
