A heartbroken Rita Somda talked to CTV Montreal Friday about the accident that claimed the life of her husband Wilfred Somda as well as several other members of her extended family.
Here is a transcript of her interview with CTV Montreal Friday, translated into English.
"He left for a family celebration, his parents' 50th wedding anniversary. He went with other family members but I couldn’t go due to my (pregnant) condition.
They were supposed to return yesterday but we know what happened.
In the morning I heard through media that a plane disappeared, so it’s through the media that we heard, and we called the family. They didn’t want to wake me due to my state but seeing as I woke early I turned on the news because I was expecting his call.
I heard what happened and I called the family and they confirmed that the flight disappeared and we awaited information all day yesterday and then last night we had confirmation that there were no survivors.
If we try to understand it’ll just drive us crazy, so we’ve just got to accept it. We need courage, he wasn’t alone, there were six people with him, all gone in one moment.
I need to be strong and face it and deal with the baby I’m expecting.
I told my three-year-old daughter but does she really understand? That’s the question, I said 'they went to heaven' but what does that mean? I know I’ll have to explain it a few more times and the baby who’s coming will have to see his father in pictures and other souvenirs. It won’t be the same as having his father beside him.
I didn’t expect to have such support from so many people, I am alone in Quebec without family but with the mobilization of the Burkinabe community in the whole Montreal area, my friends, work colleagues and those who knew my husband. People came over and some even slept here so I wouldn’t be alone, so I don t have to do anything, they’re taking care of me, so they are there for me.
I have a baby on the way so I'm on maternal leave. My baby is due next week, so with the hospital we’re trying to get physical help for the baby but it’ll be very, very hard but we’ll stay strong because we have no choice.
The Burkinabe community is strong and supportive and I know they’ll always be there for me,
The funeral, were still taking a decision, due to the state of the plane. We don’t know what will be left of the bodies or even if we can get bodies. The biggest ceremonies will be in Burkina. There are five family members who need funerals, so those in Burkina are better organized to do it and here there will be things happening but for the moment we don’t have the information, we haven's decided with the community and friends, we’ll see what can be done here.
I'll go to Burkina Fasso as soon as I can, as soon as the baby will be able to travel, we can go but for the moment I can’t. I can’t take the plane and when I give birth the baby won’t be ready for a long trip, we’ll have to wait several months to be able to make the trip.
I imagine the family there and their sadness. The funerals have already started today with prayers. They’re trying to find it they can get the bodies to see what happens next. We are Catholic."
