Tae Kami Medical Fund

29th January Update

Greetings again and Bula from Fiji.
Tae and Sina are now into their second day in Auckland New Zealand. From the phone calls, it has been quite hectic with family and friends calling in on their first night and then today they were surprised by a pre-arranged helicopter ride arranged by Robyn Scott Vincent of RSVP productions. Fortunately Sina had no idea something like this was going to happen and was forced to participate in what turned out to be a thrilling experience for her and Tae.   Wednesday will be the CT Scan of her lungs before a host of other visits with various friends in Auckland.

While Tae had a fantastic day in Auckland, those of us in Suva, Fiji,  spent a day recovering from the passing cyclone which left us without power, water or phones. Living without an Internet connection can be quite a blessing! We were relieved Tae was not here for the cyclone. We woke up to find a tree from the neighbours missed our house by inches but  took down our powerline and snapped the phone line. We now have power and water restored but the LIVE powerline is still on the front lawn.
Please remember the people in Fiji in your prayers - especially those affected by the cyclone who have been forced to evacuate their homes.

LOVE and Blessings

27th January - Update

Bula all from Suva, Fiji.

Tae woke up coughing blood this morning.  She's giggling in the kitchen as she downs a banana smoothie with her sisters.  Tomorrow (Monday) morning she leaves with Sina for New Zealand for a CT scan and a last round of appointments with the doctors who can make the time. She is determined to be back home by Friday.

What a journey its been - Tae continues to amaze us with her clarity - she is so certain of eternity and death is not issue at all. As Lani put it so well, the difficult call is how much more will it take to LIVE. To Tae, the possibility that she may have weeks or months is just another stage in her life and she seems unaffected by it all - switching from writing her funeral plans to grappling with the possibility that this may be just another part of her journey and she may outlive us all. I wish I could see life through her eyes - somehow we have made it so complex ... if  we could understand our own mortality... life is short - whether we get 3 months or  70 years - we should be living life knowing that death is a certainty and cancer should not be the messenger that reminds us.

I often talk to friends of the certainty and peace that shone through the latter part of Dad's life and the wish someday to get to that point - Im only just realizing - Tae is in that same place. She is at peace with her world and her God....its an incredible platform to watch the world from - so much makes sense when our view is unhindered by the trees...

In the last 3 weeks,  I have tried to spend more time with Tae. Often in the midst of our conversation she starts to cough - we pause, while she regathers herself -  she doesnt see the tears well up in my eyes, then we both recover and continue like nothing happened. The coughing is like a wail of a siren - piercing the house late at night - telling us something is up... this wonderful kid we have been privileged to share our lives with may be leaving soon... it reminds us that life is transitory and if we could see through the lenses Tae wears - we too would treasure only what is most precious and clear the garbage that hinders our own journey.

23 January - Update

Tae will be seeing Dr. Malani again tomorrow morning and we will leave for NZ on Sunday, January 27th and come back on Friday, February 1st. She doesn't want to stay too long in NZ so we will get the scan done on Wednesday next week and see her doctors and then come back to Fiji.

She is still has the cough and feeling tired most times. But she still loves to .... sing and play her guitar, reading books, Bebo, spending time with her sisters and cousin Moala.. and sleeping!

We thank you all for the prayers, comments on the website and all the emails.
God bless and Malo 'aupito

Some Photos

Tae and her friends

Grandma Tae and Moala, Mia and Joy on their first day at school in Fiji while Tae Jr still in bed.

21 January - Tae's Journal

Dear Journal,

Yesterday we had Dr.Joji Malani at home with us to discuss things.
Lately, I've been thinking of going to NZ for a biospy and for some more tests.
It was hard though, since I just didn't want to go anywhere at the moment - but I knew that it's the right thing to do. :-)
Ever since we found out about the cancer last week, we've been wondering what would be the next big step for us.
What would we do next? what else could we do?
I really want to know more about what's happening...and hopefully, by having a few more tests we can learn more about the condition.
The nz clinic has booked a CT scan for next week...so we'll see how things go,and book the tickets.

My grandma came over last Friday, along with my cousin Moala as a surprise.
It was great having some of the family back with us.
After a lazy day yesterday, I decided that the girls should play outside for the day...
It took me the whole morning to get the kids out of the house..
So I went out into the garden, and sat under a lemontree - myself.
(If anyone's reading this, then you should definately try it one day!)
Eventually, the girls came out and we sat there in the sun, talking.
Poor mum.
She caught me in the living room and asked me whether I really was sick or not. :)
All I could say was that I have my bad days, and I have my good days.
And I guess, today was a good one.

21 January Update - New Zealand...

Dr Joji Malani visited yesterday to discuss various options presented by the doctors in New Zealand. Tae decided that she would do all the necessary tests needed to confirm the xray diagnosis and this would include possibly a CT scan and biopsy. It was agreed that she would have to do a quick trip to New Zealand this week. There is a very small chance that it might be something else and not cancer and the doctors think thats worth pursuing although the assumption is it's malignant until proven otherwise.

Today we  will confirm if a CT scan and biopsy can be arranged in New Zealand before the end of the week. We also hope to clear our personal effects and vehicle from the wharf which has been stuck for almost 3 weeks.
Tae will post an update later.
'ofa atu and blessings.

 

20 Jan 2008 Tae's Journal...

I found this piece of Tae's journal on the computer this morning... it shows that despite the faith there is a struggle as Tae finds her way through. We have decided to let her walk through this and make her decisions and provide support and encouragement when she wants it. Dr. Malani is dropping in this morning and we are looking forward to further discussions.

I have been asked several times this week how we cope... Tae makes it so much easier - her strength and positive outlook is contagious - but we know its a battle and as the words of one of her favourite songs.. beneath the armour, the warrior is a child.  Bless you Tae.

Dear Journal,

It's strange, you know?
Having to adjust to all this.
Lung Cancer...it's new to me.
I don't think it's a big change though...I've been here before.
It's just hard.
Hard having to wake up in the morning and not know what lies ahead.
Hard thinking about your future when you certainly don't know what the outcome will be.
Last night, I cried...I was confused,I didn't know what else to expect- but all I knew was that I wanted to live.
What do you do when you don't know what else to do?
You pray.

19 January Weekend Perspective

What a week...
The initial shock on Monday of dealing with the cancer news - both lungs-  and then the wave of email and encouragement from so many of you - we had to inform the school that Tae's registration would be delayed till we figure out whats happening.

Tae is asleep - after a long day welcoming several visitors and Grandma Tae flying in from Tonga with the added surprise of bringing Moala - the girls were so surprised to see Moala and Tae kept saying what a good thing having family here. Grandma was moved to come and find everyone so positive...

It is a tough time for Tae - she is definitely unafraid of death - she talks candidly of getting to heaven and looking for Grandpa (Sione Kami) and then asking the lord why she only got 14 years on earth. She says she'll likely know the answer by then...  I offered to join her on this wonderful trip - Tae's response was - its probably best I stay back in case she's embarrassed by seeing me disappearing in a ball of flames as she ascends to heaven (its not funny!)

After the group of the young Horois and Gibsons sang a few songs and left, she started pondering  on the things she would love to do and said to me this evening - there is so much I want to live for - and I do want to live...

We have visited Dr. Malani the local specialist here who was very understanding with Tae's situation. She asked him to tell her how long she has... He mentioned its difficult to predict where it goes from here - it could be 2-3 months or it could suddenly turn for the worse.. on the other hand she could live for much longer...

Her plans are now to get through her birthday - she's so excited by friends coming in from the USA, Canada  and New Zealand, and family planning to drop in to Fiji from various parts of the Pacific over the next month.
Tae will update later ... 'ofa atu, Taholo

 

18 January - Update

Hi everyone
We finally have our internet connection at home so now we can put up updates from here instead of keep going to dad's office.

This morning we got a visit from Rex and his children and also Mr and Mrs Gibson three children. They brought their guitars and played some songs for Tae and she shared her story with them. They had a lovely time.. five talented teenagers!

Also Tae's grandma arrived from Tonga at lunch time today with their cousin Moala. The girls were so happy to see both of them ... especially when they saw their cousin because they didn't know that she was coming. 

16 January - Update

Tae this morning wanted to eat Tongan pancakes and enjoyed her breakfast. Her two sisters, Mia and Joy helped finished all the pancakes. She spent the whole day at home so her dad went to work at 6am and came back early to spend sometime with her. Dad came home at 11am and spent a few hours just talking and playing computer games with Tae. Despite the long journey we are faced with this reality how important time is... So we did what she loves doing... Singing and listen to all her favorite gospel songs... like ...

Because He lives I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives all fear is gone;
Because I know He holds the future
And life is worth the living just because He lives.

Another song (which little sister Joy sings louder than both Tae and Mia)

There will be mountains that I will have to climb
And there will be battles that I will have to fight
But victory all defeat, it's up to me to decide
But how can I expect to win If I never try.

I just can't give up now
I've come too far from where I started from
Nobody told me the road would be easy
and I don't believe he brought me this far to leave me

Never said there wouldn't be trials
Never said I would't fall
Never said that everything would go the way I want it to go
But when my back is against the wall
And i feel all hope is gone,
I'll just lift my head up to the sky
And say help me to be strong

We continue to pray for God's will and to give us grace and peace