Podcaster Marya Prude recently opened up about a deeply personal journey of grief. Speaking on the Mike One Comic podcast on YouTube, she shared the emotional reality of losing her daughter, Adana Raburu.
One detail stood out to many listeners. It took Prude six years to finally let go of the hospital bag she packed for her baby.
The Preparedness of a Mother
In late 2019, Prude was in her final trimester and eagerly awaiting the arrival of her first child. Like many expectant mothers, she had everything ready. She had purchased blankets and essential items for the hospital.
However, the joy of preparation turned into a nightmare. Prude suffered a stillbirth in January 2020 after 14 hours of labour. The items she had lovingly packed remained in the bag, untouched for years.
“I knew I was pregnant and all I cared was the pregnancy because we had struggled to have a baby, so I really wanted things to be okay with the baby. Then I had a stillbirth,” she recalled.
Six Years of Holding On
Prude explained that the bag became a symbol of a life that ended before it truly began. She kept the bag from 2019 until 2025. For Prude, the trauma was so significant that she could not face the contents inside.
“Having a stillbirth is the worst for any pregnant woman, because literally a part of you dies. I can never be the same person I was before,” she stated,
She noted that keeping the memory of her daughter alive is essential. For her, discussing the loss is a way of acknowledging her daughter’s existence.
“I had all my baby’s items in a bag and I got rid of all that last year. Since the tragic loss, I couldn’t open the hospital bag. From 2019 up to 2025, that’s like 6 years,” she added.
The Statistics of Loss
During the conversation, Prude touched upon the medical aspects of her experience. She suggested that her loss might have been avoided if different medical decisions had been made at the time.
Prude stated that 25% of pregnancy losses are often the result of avoidable medical faults.
A Journey Through "Dark Times"
The loss of Adana occurred during a period of intense personal turmoil. Prude revealed that her marriage to media personality Willis Raburu was straining. Their marriage ended in June 2020.
Prude finally found the strength to part with the hospital bag last year. She chose a significant date for this final act of letting go. She got rid of the baby's items on Adana’s birthday in 2025.
Today, Prude is back in Nairobi and hosts the Marya Prude Podcast. She says she has become more resilient through therapy and self-reflection. She continues to share her story to help other women who have faced similar dark times.
