About Me

Acknowledgements , Thank You, Malo Aupito

Tonga Address
PO Box 2029
Nuku'alofa
Tonga

New Zealand Address
37 Waitangi Rd
Onehunga
Auckland
New Zealand

Jan 2008 - We move to Fiji. Tae has had a persistent cough. The day before registering her in her new school an Xray reveals cancer in both lungs. Tae insists on no further treatment. A quick trip to Auckland confirms cancer in the lungs and in the liver. Cancer is now considered terminal Nov 2007 - Tae had major surgery to remove the Inverted Papilloma Tumour and insert a Titanium implant around her left eye to replace the tumour affected bone. We are advised that she will now have to wait at least 18 months to see if the tumour will grow back before any reconstruction can be undertaken.

• 2007 - 4 visits to New Zealand for check ups and reactive infections • Planning begins by Surgeon Ninian Pickett on reconstruction of Tae’s face. • 2007 September: Face swells up with an infection – Inverted Papilloma is identified – surgery planned for November 2007 to remove tumour from area around left eye - reconstruction delayed

2004
Nov - Constant nose bleed
Dec - Operation in Vaiola Hospital to remove polyp growth in nose. Bleeding does not stop and leads to further hospitalization
2005
Feb - Tae is operated on left sinuses through upper jaw to remove tumour – inverted Papilloma This was funded by the Tongan Government via NZ Aid. Tumour is Benign.=
July - Tumour has regrown and protruding through left nostril. Operation in Tonga through incision down the left side of nose to remove Inverted Papilloma done visiting ENT team from Melbourne, Australia
Sept - Operation in NZ on sinuses on right side of face to remove inverted Papilloma
Dec - Operation in NZ on sinuses on both left and right side to remove inverted Papilloma
2006
Jan / Feb - Cancer confirmed and extensive surgery and radiotherapy is recommended

Feb 23 - 17 hour operation to remove cheekbones, upperjaw and all related tissues with reconstruction of face. Dr John Chaplin, Dr. Nick McIvor, Dr. Paul Simcock, Dr. Mark Izzard, Dr Ian Chapman and the medical team.

March 13th - 11 hour operation to repair flap, remove nodes on neck and skin grafts

May 1st - June 9th: 30 sessions of radiotherapy spread over 6 weeks at Auckland Hospital - this has included several days in hospital...

August 9th: Major surgery expected to remove reconstruction. Most of the reconstructed bone and tissue found to be in good health despite removal of dead bone.

August 15th - WOW - tests come back and Tae is tumour free - cancer in remission.

Back to Tonga to let the wound heal and to allow for growth and recovery

December 06 Scans show still in remission and tumour free. Surgery to repair damage to face now set for April 2007