Antoine’s last wish:
“Sell all my paintings and send the proceeds to Ethiopia!”
The late well-known Dutch painter Antoine van den Wildenberg and his wife Wies have a long history of relationship with Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia, and have been loyal donors of the Hamlin Fistula Netherlands Foundation for years. In 2014, Antoine sadly passed away, and his last wish he expressed on his deathbed was “Sell all my paintings and send the proceeds to Ethiopia!”
So as to realize his wish, his wife Wies and her sons Frits and Stan, and daughter Floor, along with our long term trustee in the Netherlands Dr. Barbara Kwasat, have been working for years. At the end of June 2017, the family and Dr. Barbara arrived at the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital and handed over two modern OR lamps bought, in consultation with our medical team, from the sale of Mr. Antoine’s art works.
“The lamps are now successfully installed and assisting us in our life-changing surgeries. They are playing an important role in the quality of care the hospital is known for. My heartfelt thanks to Mr. Antoine’s family in the name of the poor women we are treating and the whole Hamlin staff. May his sole rest in peace,” said Dr. Fekade Ayenachew, HFE Medical Director, while acknowledging the commitment of the family.
On the arms of the lamps, the following message reads:
“Bright light for Hamlin Fistula Hospital to continue this beautiful work; In loving memory of Antoine van den Wildenberg from his family”
