Tae Kami Medical Fund

31 October - Hi from Auckland, NZ

Hi everyone,

We arrived here at 2:30pm and our friend 'Anaseini Manu picked us up from the airport.

Yesterday in Tonga was a very busy day with visitors dropping in to say goodbye and to name a few,  Sela Nakao and her girls, Rev Ikani Tolu and family, Sione Faka'osi and family, 'Aisake Newton and family, the 'Atiola's, and so many friends and families came. We thank you all again for all the prayers and support.

The new Child Cancer Foundation of Tonga met at our veranda at home yesterday lunch time. We are hoping that with the foundation we would be able to support the children with cancer and their families.
As the chairperson of the foundation, I truly believe that No child suffering from cancer, or their family should ever feel alone.

Tae's Journal : Monday, 29 October =)

Hey everyone,

Right now, the cornea of my left eye is gradually getting sore and red...yet I still don't know why I feel so positive about things.

But I guess there's no better way than to see Life in that perspective. :)

Just yesterday, we had a great lunch...and it was really nice to be with so many of our friends and family in one place-though we had a full house, it was a fun get- together...and is one of the most memorable times  I'd definitely be thinking about, while I'm in hospital.

( I'll also have put up some photos later on...)

28 October Update

Hi all,
It's been a long Sunday with lots of visitors. We had over 30 people for lunch with our neighbours Latu & Sunia generously roasting a pig and doing a traditional umu (hangi) to share with the family and friends coming together before we leave for New Zealand on Wednesday. We had visitors right through the afternoon and evening and Tae was thrilled to share the day with some of her friends from school.

We have been blessed by the emails and comments on the website. Thank you for your prayers and support. For those who have asked how they can help, you can click here.  Tae is too tired to post an update tonight but will write tomorrow.  Special thanks to Robyn Scott Vincent and the RSVP Production crew for following us through this journey with the camera and incredible commitment. Also to the Tagata Pasifica folks at TV NZ - amazing work - thank you all for inspiring us.

What a journey - its been over 3 years now but we count our blessings and we know despite all things God does have a plan!

Watch episodes live on the web:

- Oct 25 - Tae and a Nation's Love 1: Pt.I
- Oct 25 - Tae and a Nation's Love 1: Pt.II
- Oct 25 - Tae and a Nation's Love 1: Pt.III

26 October/ Tae's Update-after Tagata Pasifika*

Hi everyone,

Just this morning, I had been checking our inbox to find so many encouraging and supportive emails from people in response  after the Tagata Pasifika program last night.
It's been amazing,really.
And I really can't thank these people enough.
We've been getting support from the beginning of this long,long journey...and it's been so overwhelmingly reassuring to know that this "kind of kindness" never failed and never will.
It's been a blessing.
So thank you all and malo 'aupito  for everything.  :)

25 October - Update from Tonga

While I am typing this update, the song "Just a closer walk  with Thee..let it be.. dear Lord.. let it be" is playing from Tae's room.

She went to school today, did the English  Exam paper and came home feeling so tired. But in the evening she asked to see Mele 'Okusi (maths teacher at her school) to ask her some questions. Mele came and I told her that Tae doesn't trust me when it comes to maths!

After her session with Mele, she went to her room saying she is not feeling well.. headache and pain around her left eye.  She is lying down, listening to some of her gosbel songs.

She told me to go ask the principal if she could sit some of the exam papers during the weekend because she will leave for NZ early next week. She likes the idea of staying in hospital and waiting to hear what marks or grade she  gets for each of her exam papers! I told her, what if gets only a 3/100 and she smiled and said "I will say that the tumor has spread... and got into my brain...good excuse eh!" :-)

25 October - Next Steps

Hi all,

After much discussion, prayer and contemplation we have decided to move forward with the next round of treatment on 2 November.  Tae will undergo surgery to remove the tumour around her left eye and the bone structure in this part of her face will be replaced with a titanium implant which will hold her left eye. This whole procedure is focused on simply removing the tumour.

We have taken heart from the encouragement from many people and from Tae's own determination to get through and can only trust that this is part of the journey. Thank you all again for your prayers and support through this journey and we ask that you continue to raise Tae up in your daily thoughts and prayers.

For those watching TV in New Zealand, some of this journey will be featured onTagata Pasifika on TV One - Thursday Oct 25 at 11pm (Details on the TV program See Coming Event on the left hand side of the screen)

22 Oct - Update from Mom

Righteousness in the heart produces beauty in the character. Daily Bread

Tae is in the room at the moment studying for her final exam which starts this Wednesday. I told her she doesn't have to sit all the 9 papers and she told me that she won't do the Tongan language exam.. but she still wants to have a go at the other 8!

She is really enjoying her time here in Tonga. Last Saturday, she went to the Queen Salote College Bazaar day, came back and went to the Youth Camp in the evening. On Sunday, at the Centenary Weslyan Church - she was reading the first Hymn (538) in our Tongan language. The congregation were surprised to see her and after the service there were lots of hugging, crying and praising God. Tae also met the women from the  Fellowship of the Least Coins (from around the world), they told Tae that they will be praying for her too.

After the Sunday service, we came home for lunch with the family and also some palangi friends. 'Amelia, was so happy that she finally have her teacher, Cindy, over for lunch. Cindy is from Matamata, New Zealand. We had a lovely time together and also watching one of the "Bill Gaither - Gospel home coming dvd's

19 October - Tae's Journal

Hi everyone,

Just a quick update from Tonga...
We arrived on Tuesday afternoon,and it was just great to see Mia's face as she started running towards us.
Luckily, my aunt managed to keep the secret of our arrival long enough.
So while we were getting our bags, she kept my sister busy outside...telling her to expect a big package from one of the ladies arriving.
She even made a sign saying : Package for Amelia Kami.

17th October Update

Sina, Tae and Joy are now back in Tonga - surprising Mia who burst into tears at the airport when she saw them - she was told someone was bringing her a package.  Everyone is happy to be home, even if only for  a few days.

Appreciate all the comments and emails from so many people and your support sure makes a difference to us. It looks like another round of surgery is the option for the removal of the tumour so we will continue discussions with the doctors on the way forward from here. The priority now is to remove the tumour before any further reconstruction work. We will keep you updated.

Appreciate your continued prayers and thoughts through this time.

15 October - Tae's Journal

Hi everyone,

I'm still here  in New Zealand,after feeling sick on Saturday October 13th - at that point the doctor suggested for me to stay and we agreed .... until I feel better.
It  was a disappointment, since I was so excited to be going home...but just that morning I woke up with a really bad head ache, pain around my left eye and severe nausesa, I knew that I could'nt go to Tonga in that state. I don't regret making the decision though, because we're finally going home tomorrow - Tuesday.

It's always been like this for us : Things happen even when we least expect it to...and some of these things are not necessarily good.
Missing out on my school's Dance/ma'ulu'ulu tomorrow, was hard to accept... because I was soooo looking forward for that. But I really can't complain...since my grandma was taken back to hospital the very same Saturday morning that I got sick. She had an asthma attacked that morning I guess she didn't take it well seeing me vomiting and in pain. But we managed to see her today, and she felt much better.
So really, we're both better in a ways now. :))

I'm trying to keep our arrival in Tonga a surprise for my 9 yr old sister Mia...at first, we thought we'd surprise everyone there- but news spreads fast in Tongan families...it's like a "coconut connection"...everyone will find out...eventually.
Luckily, my sister still doesn't know...so hopefully, she won't be reading this on my website!
I miss her so much, so next time we come for surgery on this tumour, I will bring her along because I always like having my family together here whenever I have big operation.