Tae Kami Medical Fund

28 August 2007: Interesting Link

Hi everyone,

I'm finally able to get back online and also am able to put up my own updates from here instead of asking dad to put it up. I haven't been feeling well lately and haven't been to school for 4 days.

Link:

Cancer Survivor Movie

-Watching this movie was what I *really needed...I was feeling a bit low, but watching it reminded me a lot about what I had been through,and despite the tough moments - we learn life's lessons because of it.

So,to summarize : It's something everyone should see...we shouldn't fear cancer-because it won't be the thing in our lives that will change everything- it's how you look at it (in a positive way)... that makes all the difference. :-)

Much Luv',

Tae

28 August 2007 Update

Hi all, 
Just completed a brief weekend in Tonga with the family and was asked to put up an update since the computer and internet connection at home is on the blink again. 

We spent much of the weekend around preparations for the funeral of Taulupe Aleamotu'a who is married to my cousin Miki with 9 lovely kids. Taulupe passed away suddenly last week and was layed to rest yesterday. Our thoughts and prayers with Fielakepa, Tuna, Lopeti, Sela and Miki and the family.

Tae and the girls have compiled some pictures over the past month that they want to share. This includes some  highlights ;
The setting up of the Tonga Child Cancer Foundation - Still in process. Another step in this journey.

  Finally meeting Elenoa and the Lyons family - who held a key fundraising for Tae in the UK in 2006.  Victoria had her birthday in Tonga That was fun!

Cyclone Joy went to school  after Sina and the head of the kindergarden relented to her pleas to go to "tool" and let her in early.  She now wears the school bag through the weekends...- not sure how she gets the biggest picture as well!

 

Baby Rosa was baptized and  parents Taina & Joe were overwhelmed by the turnout of family and friends!

Other highlights include a visit to a Grand uncle Lisala - pictured below and one night at the Good Samaritan Beach where we saw 2 live whales but could not get a picture... I think someone turned 40 as well last month.

Finally the Tae update -

"We are still waiting for news from New Zealand. Quite a few exchanges on email in the past 2 months and the complexity of the reconstruction process and possible approaches is highlighted by the long delays. As soon as we have a clear way forward we will update you all.

Thank you for your prayers and support"... 'ofa lahi atu Tae

23 August - Tae's Prayer

Dear God,

Growing up is interesting,

I’ve only just realized,

Being a teenager-can be fun,

Though we’re constantly changing inside

As a child I Grew up,
Unaware of what You could Really Do,

19th August 2007 Update

Just got off the phone with Sina and Tae in Tonga.  They have asked me to post an update since their computer has not been working well for the past week. Tae joked that now she has to withdraw from her gmails and personal bebo site since the computer and internet connections have not been working well and now will do "bible" more then "bebo"!  The old laptop they have been using no longer has all the keys working -  someone must have spilled something on the keyboard and in Tonga repairs take time!  We have heaps of pictures to post but unfortunately they cannot email them for further updates - so we promise by end of next week - a zillion pics... maybe 10 or so.

We have received a 2 minute video from Robyn Scott Vincents visit to Tonga last week that catches Tae answering questions while looking in the mirror and explaining why she looks in the mirror and sees her face and its not the person she "is". If there ever was a reason why we must move on with reconstruction its captured well by the video. For those who want to download it - just email. Appreciate the  dedication of  Robyn and her team  in New Zealand - also glad to have you as part of the family in this journey!

Taina's Baby Rosa was baptized today. Congratulations Joe, Taina and little baby ROSA! 

Sina finally relented to Cyclone Joy's pleas to go to school so earlier in the week a uniform was quickly sewn overnight and Joy turned up for her first day of Kindergarden - I think the teachers felt sorry for her and let her in for the remainder of the year. She LOVES it and tells mom to leave her and go home! She proudly announces to all that her best friend is "Sela". Turns out Sela is the "Teesha " or Teacher. The kids probably find her quite a challenge....

Enjoy the weekend and thank you for your prayers and support for Tae!!

14 August - Tae's Journal

Hi everyone,

Today’s Monday, and so far there has been a lot happening.

On Saturday nite, we had Robyn Scott Vincent, her son, Ryan and a top cameraman Wayne from the TV program “Attitude” to film us at home over the weekend. They arrived on Saturday night and returned to New Zealand on Monday morning so it was quite busy.

The difference this time was that usually the filming was either IN a hospital ward or related in someway to it so it was good to be in a different atmosphere - especially home in Tonga -  and be filmed just doing what one usually does…going to school, home over the weekend and such.

Yesterday, we went to church together with Robyn's team and it was funny because I had to wear this microphone with me- during Church, I’d have Robyn come through to adjust the microphone every now and then or noticed Wayne and the camera just off my shoulder while I was singing a hymn…fortunately; I managed to endure all that without disturbing the peace.

There’s a lot to be done when getting filmed, but I’m just glad I’m comfortable enough to be in front of a camera, and I know what an important piece it plays in helping me with my upcoming surgeries and also in helping others understand the situation and how they themselves could cope of they happen to be in a similar situation.

We all had lunch at home, and also had family and friends over as well.

There, we did a couple of shots with me and my friends, just hanging around and talking, the kind of things that I just love to do… experiencing life as it is: yeah, it has it’s complexity but at the same time it’s the simple things that matter the most.

After everything I had been through…I found pleasure in my family, my friends, in every little/big thing that is good.

5 August Tae's Journal

Hi everyone,

Today’s Sunday and so far it’s just been a great week.

As I told you before in my last update – I’ve been at school for 2 weeks running.

It’s interesting, all the same…on Friday – at school, punishments / demerits (ngaue mo’ua) are usually issued individually or occasionally the whole class is involved ... our whole class copped it  this time. 

I know that I could’ve backed out of it, I was not involved  (breaking the rules).. - it was a pretty good excuse not to take part on the ngauemo’ua even the teacher said not to worry only my class will do the ngauemo’ua.

But at the same time, I know I can do these things without difficulty and that it wouldn’t be so bad, weeding the garden with all my friends too.

Most of them were surprised, and sympathetic- and they must’ve wondered why I was glad to be a part of detention: it’s simply because this was actually my first detention in 4 years…funnily enough, it almost felt like a privilege.

But anyway, the weekend was great…we had planned sometime ago, to go to the beach for the day, but never managed to get around to it because we always have visitors -until that Friday afternoon we went to stay for the night at one of the beach huts in The Good Samaritan Inn.

It was fun, the beach was beautiful and we also managed to spot a couple pf whales straight from the shore…I had never seen the creatures in real life, even for my dad...so it seemed like a pretty memorable moment and made everything worthwhile.

1 August - Tae's Journal

Hi everyone,
( Picture: My Kool Klass) This week's schedule so far has been pretty busy. At school, we're having our Common Tests…it was funny, because last week I had just started school "officially". Meaning that I was once again back at my school and taking part of everything…even if it was after-school classes. After coming late one day last week I had to even help clean up after assembly - with the rest of the late comers!

(Picture: Tae, Rima, Joy & Apai) I was sitting next to a friend of mine the other day, and just happened to notice her studying and looking over at a certain timetable…only to discover that we had tests coming, tests that I was blissfully unaware of. (Until now!)

It's great to be back though, and knowing I do have the strength to do these things – but if I ever did feel sick, I'd have to put that first. For example, just yesterday at school, I wasn't feeling so well, just a really bad headache and swelling…and at the same time – we were going to have another test, but I had to go home early and see the doctor that afternoon anyway. Fortunately he said it's just an infection- and he prescribed some antibiotics to treat it and hoping that the swelling and pain will go away soon. When problems like this happens to me, I always thank God that I am still here and He gives me enough that I can handle.

(Picture: Mia at School) Today is a Public Holiday (The King has a new Birthday) but due to a lot of rain, there hasn't been much going on…my parents has been caught up in a lot of meetings and functions. We 've had so many visitors almost everyday and it's a blessing knowing that so many people still remember us in their prayers and also follow my case closely. This morning they went to have breakfast with the Lyons family Stephen, Elenoa, Victoria and Tom from England. They held a critical fund raising in England last year for my medication so Im glad we could catch up with them.