Tae Kami Medical Fund

29th November - Malo e lelei from Tonga!

Greetings from Tonga!

We arrived here on Tueday night.
The interview with Robyn Scott-Vincent from RSVP and Attitude Program on Tuesday in Auckland went well then we went to see John Chaplin. He was happy for us to come home. We left that evening and when we got here , dad and Mia picked us up from the airport. But at home, there was a big welcome sign hanging outside the house created by aunty Leta. Grandma Tae, aunty Taina and Tangikina, uncle Joe and Naisa and cousins were all waited for us here at home. We stayed up late that night ... eating, talking and drinking coffee with a yummy chocolate cake baked by aunty Tangikina. But it is just feels good to be back at home... NO place like home.

27 November - one for the road!

Good morning everyone!
I woke up this morning and read the following devotion and I would like to share it with you as we go on with different task today.. Have a nice day and 'ofa atu.

Unlocking Your Potential

For everything, absolutely everything... finds its purpose in Him.

Colossians 1:16 TM

26 November - Tae's Journal

Hi everyone,

Today's appointment went well. Mum and my little sister Joy, didn't want to come inside to see the replacing of my feeding tube. But when I went in, the nurse called my mum in, so she can show her what to do and then let mum change my tube. I felt sorry for mum, but she followed the instruction given by the nurse, but when she tried to pull out the tube from my stomach, I can tell she almost cried. But she did it and then put in the new feeding tube into my stomach.... the nurse, Janice was happy and told mum she wanted her to do it otherwise something happen to my tube while we are in Tonga. I now have a new tube in my stomach and am ready for the appointment with John Chaplin tomorrow and then ... off to Tonga :-)

25 November - Tae's Journal

Click on our November Album for More Pictures - we finally got to download them from the camera.

Hi everyone,

Just writing in, after a pretty good week, Things are getting better everyday...I've begun to feel less tired, and I've actually become more eager to get out a bit more.

(left: Rev. Taniela Moala and Viena - Oct. 25, 2007 at home in Tonga)

The other day, we went shopping for things to take back to Tonga - biscuits, chocolates and little gifts to give away for Xmas. I also spent the past few days, just going places - I also went to see my cousins in Avondale who some of them I hadn't seen in ages. I'm looking forward to seeing the family back in Tonga, and also see my friends from school...but I'm definitely going to miss the family here in NZ as well.

I thank you to all my new friends who have supported me on this journey - through their prayers, emails and donations. My mum's friend, Senolita and  husband Kafoa brought their children the other day. It was nice knowing that my mum got so many friends out there and they take time to drop in.. Malo 'aupito! (Thank you so much)

(Pic-left: Rev. Valamotu, Rev. Lousiale, Tae, Rev. 'Asinate - October 28th, 2007)

For us, when we go to Tonga- it depends on how well I'd be, in order to estimate how long our stay there would be. Which is funny, because sometimes I'd be in Tonga only for a few  - before having to come back because of my eye swelling up. 

23 November - Update

Tae's appointment with the eye specialist Dr. Richard Hart, went well. Tae can see with NO double vision on the left eye now and Richard was happy - further delays in removing the tumour could have resulted in the loss of her eye.

Tae is now waiting to go Auckland Hospital on Monday next week to replace her feeding tube (peg) on the stomach before we leave for Tonga.  Her next appointment with John Chaplin will be on next Tuesday, November 27th. If all goes well on that day, we will leave for Tonga in that evening so Tae can attend the last day of her School on November 29th, 2007.

Lots to celebrate.... 

• The tumour is out and margins are clear
• Reconstruction was so much easier with the titanium implant - recovery faster with much less trauma to body

We are thankful for a dedicated medical team supported by a great bunch of people nursing at Gillies and Ascot Hospitals and the incredible effort of the engineering and software team to deliver a titanium implant in such a short time.  Also the many who made contributions to cover the costs of the hospital and surgery and those who continue to hold us up in your prayers...

20 November 2007 Update...

Hi all,
We visited John Chaplin today for the weekly medical check up and Tae was all prepared to be given the go ahead to leave for Tonga as soon as possible...

John remains impressed with the recovery and although there is still swelling under the left eye and some discomfort at times,  she shows no sign of fever and the swelling should resolve itself over the next month.

The pathology report has also come back and the good news is the margins around the tumour are all clear which means the tumour should have been completely removed. There is however some remaining issues with identifying the tissue from the tumour - it shows both the signs of the intrusive inverted papilloma as well as possibilities of squamous cell carcinoma. John will go through with this with the pathologists later.  Whatever the final outcome - both offer similar risks in terms of the possibility of  reappearing and surgery has been the best possible step  --- other then some miraculous instant intervention!

Its wait and see now but hoping to be back in Tonga next Tuesday (27th Nov) and all going well, Tae can get back to a normal school year next year. Thank you all for your support and prayers and we thank God for the strength to continue to walk this journey with Tae!

19th November - Short Update from CCF

Just a short update:

We're here at the Child Cancer Foundation,just after meeting with Donna and Eve from Canteen...which is a Program supporting young people with Cancer.                                                                        

I just managed to sign myself up for it today...I think it'll definitely be cool to get involved and I'm looking forward to it.

I also got a new mobile phone from Eve- which is also my first one...I never thought I'd need one until now! =)

They also treated mum to a massage-which was nice of the Foundation to do so.

Today went very well, just getting out and doing things...and hopefully, tomorrow's appointment with the doctor will go just as well.(fingers crossed)

Much 'ofas and Until then,

Tae

16 November - Tae's Journal

Hi everyone,
Yesterday, my mum went to help her sister prepare things for a Buffet dinner which was held in celebration for Uncle Vaitulala who had his ordination as a Reverend last night.
So I guess I'll have to call him "Rev".Vaitulala  now! =).. Congratulation Rev.!

Here are some pix of his ordination that took place in Wellington during the Methodist Church Conference:
http://www.methodist.org.nz/files/images/Ordinands.jpg (Rev. Vaitulala, second to the right and Rev. Saikolone Taufa on the far left)
http://www.methodist.org.nz/files/images/Ordination.jpg

Tuesday Nov 13th's appointment : So,how did it go?...

Today I with Mom went for this morning's appointment at Gillies with John Chaplin.
On Friday, the area around my left eye had swollen up all of a sudden - but since then, things have been improving well over the past few days.
I woke up this morning to find mum talking on the phone...she then gave it to me, and I found myself in conversation with a lady named Mema.
Towards the end of the conversation, I then remembered Mema from the Radio station (Niu FM)..and that what I had just said was in fact the whole interview...I just hope I didn't say the wrong things. :))

Afterwards, we had to rush for the appointment...I felt a bit self-conscious at first since the left side of my face was still healing - but really, worrying like that never helps. =)
In the end, John did a swap from my mouth to send to the lab.. more tests - since I was also feeling some pain on the left side of my face...and I was really disappointed when I was told I couldn't go home next week. He knew that I'd ask that question (to go home next week)...and I knew that I'd get that answer anyway. So I got over it.
There's always a chance for me to go to Tonga later on in a few weeks time.:)

Tae's Journal : Sunday 11th November

Hi everyone,

Being back home has been great...coming home on Friday, I was a little afraid of having to walk out in the lobby-knowing that my scars were still very obvious from the surgery.

But just being able to take little steps of improvement each day is an accomplishment.