Tae Kami Medical Fund

28 December Tae's Journal

+*Wishing everyone Happy Holidays, and an even Happier New Year*+

I'd just like to thank everyone and everybody, for all the support and prayers given.
Without them, I don't think I would've made it as far as where I am now.
It's been such a big part of what's brought us through. :)

Christmas was great, and I saw that day as a miracle itself,just being able to come this far to experience it all.
We had family and friends,christmas carols,loads of fruit pudding and fireworks.
5 things that would define a pretty good christmas evening...

25th December- Merry Christmas

Wishing you all
Joy and Happiness
not only at Christmas
but every day of the New Year!

'ofa lahi atu
from all of the Kami family in Tonga - Taholo, Sina, Tae, Mia and Joy

23 December Christmas is Here...

Malo e lelei and greetings from Tonga.
Its that time when we get together and reflect on a year packed with activities. What a Year....!

Tae is doing well despite the challenge of dealing with the distorted facial features - a daily hurdle she needs to jump - but she is in good health and spirits and looking forward to Christmas...

Our walk with Tae has been our main focus for the year and despite the various challenges we celebrate another Christmas with Tae, Grandma Tae and the rest of the Tongan Kami clan.  The thrill of catching up with friends is also balanced by the the thought that in early January we will all be leaving for Fiji. The shipping container outside the house has resulted in a flurry of activities to ensure it is on the boat before the end of the year.

Some shared thoughts...

* Christmas is a time to say thank you -  for Jesus and the faithfulness of a living saviour. We seem to forget in the mishmash of living and political correctness what Christmas really means. 
* Christmas is a celebration of family, friendships and special people who have meant so much over the past 12 months and our lifetimes - to everyone of you who have thought, prayed and supported us through this journey - we share this Christmas with you

Love and blessings from us all!

19th December Update

Hi all,
Tae, Norma, Latu and the boys in Tonga.

Latu and Sunia are our neighbours in Tonga and they have stood by us all these years, taking care of the house while we are away and keeping everything in order. They are often like another set of grandparents to the girls.  Every Sunday Sunia and the boys do the umu (hangi / underground oven) and we are always a part of that. Another special family in our journey that we will miss when we move to Fiji. Norma is visiting from San Francisco.

Tae's so thrilled to be home but this has been tempered by the slow recovery. She is concerned about the the continued swelling around her left eye and awaiting instructions from the doctor. We are down to our last 2 weeks in Tonga and looking forward to a special time with the family. Sina has been experiencing some chest pains and has been to see the doctor today.

Appreciate your continued prayers and support and our best wishes to you all as we reach the end of a challenging but rewarding year!

16th December - Tae's Journal

Dear Journal,

My mum just arrived from Fiji on Friday...she was there with Dad, looking for a place where we can move into, next month.
We're glad to have her back though-since things just weren't the same without her... and it was no surprise to us, when we woke up the next morning, and found out that she had cleaned our rooms and cleared most of our stuff and put into boxes overnight...Sina being Sina, as always. =)

Dad will be coming this week Friday, and will be here for 2 weeks...before we move to Fiji together,on the 7th of January.

It's not easy... having to move to a new place,going to a different school and meeting new people...
I don't know how things would go for me there...and the thought of trying to fit in a whole new environment ...can be scary.
At first, moving to Fiji just didn't seem to be the best option for me...especially since I seemed to be doing so well here in Tonga.

But just last night, I thought about all the things I've been through...and how God managed to keep me going,through it all.
Going through cancer-was new for me too...it was like I was taken from my own little comfort zone, and pushed into a corner-where everything was just...different.
At first,the thought of having to go through surgery and more pain seemed scary-and unnecessary.

12 December - Update

Hi everyone,
Tae is doing okay at the moment and she is excited about moving to Fiji on the 7th of January, 2008.
She has been asking questions about the new school and how understanding will they be with her situation.
We see the Principal today to discuss details.

Tae talks about trying to spend more time at school next year and is hoping that she won't get sick during the year and can  see the doctor in NZ during school holidays if she has too.

We have seen several houses over the last 5 days but the choice has come down to an environment that that will inspire the girls - especially Tae. We hope sometime we may be able to buy house to make use of the ludricous rental rates in Suva.  We finally found the rental we think everyone will like and with space for guests  in future.

11 December - Le'o 'oe Fa'e (voice of mom in Tongan)

Malo e lelei kihe Tonga kotoa pe 'oku si'i tokonia mo 'ahia 'ae ki'i peesi ni.

Na'e ai 'ae tokotaha na'ae 'eke mai kiate au, koe ha 'eku lau kihe ngaahi ta'u ko 'eni kuo te fou mai ai koe fa'e kia Tae moe taimi faingata'a pehe ni. Pea neu fakamatala pe ka koe kakano 'eni 'oe ngaahi me'a neu talanoa kiai pea kou fie vahevahe ia mo kimoutolu.

Koe ta'u ni, koe ta'u 'oe fakafeta'i moe fakamalo kihe 'Otua he tataki moe foaki kelesi he ta'u fakakoloa ko'eni.
Koe ta'u 'eni 'e 3 mei he kamata mai 'ae 'uluaki feinga faito'o 'o Tae.

8 December - Update

Hi everyone,
Tae and her two sisters are back in Tonga, while I (Sina) came to Fiji on Wednesday this week to start looking for a house  for the family to move into next year and also make arrangement for the girls school.

We have managed to talk to the International School here in Suva, and they are willing to take the girls for next year. We are now still looking for a house and hopefully we will get something today so I can go back to the girls either Monday or Tuesday next week.

I called Tae this morning, she is coming up with a cold and coughing  with some discomfort, so I told her I will try to be there on Monday. But she wanted me to make sure we got the house before I leave otherwise dad will pick something we (Girls) won't like.

Christmas greetings & Blessings to you all  as we all get into the end of another year.

4 Dec - Happy Birthday Hurricane JOY !

Joy turns 4 today and woke up to find balloons all over the verandah and a small sand pile to play on as well as some gifts. This picture shows Joy on her first birthday in 2004 with Tae. This was when the first signs of the tumour on Tae began to show with a constantly bleeding nose. Little did we know what the next 3 years for us would include - especially for Tae.

Joy has very much lived up to her name adding colour to our journey and often the smile at the end of the day. A bundle of energy, she doesn't stop till she drops (often long after we've stopped) 
Blessings from us all on your special day!

Pic: Mia and Cyclone Joy - Nov 2007

1st December - Tae's Journal

Hi everyone,

Happy December! =:)
My first week in Tonga went very well. We arrived home on Tuesday, and ever since then-things have been pretty busy. On Wednesday, my dad left for Australia and Mia also has her Prize giving Ceremony at school. On Thursday, I went to  our school's prizegiving...which was so much fun. I managed to sit through most of the prize-giving ceremony, which was held for all 3 church schools : Toloa ( all boys) QSC(all girls) and Tupou High School ( mixed) . There were a lot of people there.

Afterwards, when the last prayer was said - we all got our school magazines signed. I think I spent about over 2 hours there, getting my magazine filled with my friend's autograph... We had a great time, and I'm so glad I made the right decision to be there for that day. I'm definately going to miss them!

Yesterday, we hooked up the christmas lights and decorated our trees outside for fun...I don't know how long the lights would last- since Christmas is still a looong way! haha... But  seeing our house light up,along with my little sister's face - made waiting for Christmas something worthwhile.