Tae Kami Medical Fund

30 March - It is well with my soul!

We continue to pray and trust God on this journey with Tae as she is going through tough time, with coughing and back pain, vomiting and just feeling weak. An infection ( pseudomonas aeruginosa ) has been identified through the swabs on the opening on the left side of her face and this is being treated once a day with IV antibiotics called gentamicin sulphate.  We have a nurse coming home for 30 minutes  each day to give the medication.

The pains in her back have become a challenge - especially combined with the coughing- limiting her ability to walk around.  She is hoping this clears up sometime soon but she has started talking about going to Tonga soon. We are now considering a return to Tonga in the next week or so.

This is one of her favourite hymns... It is well with my soul!

(click to listen to the tune) http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/i/t/i/itiswell.htm

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:

If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

But, Lord, ‘tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh trump of the angel! Oh voice of the Lord!
Blessèd hope, blessèd rest of my soul!

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

29 March - Update

Tae was taken to hospital yesterday  for her first IV dose of a new antibiotics. She got the first dose of the new medication yesterday at the hospital and asked to come home and now we are paying  a nurse to come in everyday to give the required IV antibiotics. Now her little room is set up like a little hospital room with all her medication around her.

We know that we are surrounded with  prayers and love from people around the world. We still hold on to our faith in God as He is the one who has been holding us through this time. We appreciate the time of doctors who call in when we need them, their time to pick up the phone and call from NZ to check on Tae, friends who wrote, called, emailed or stop by ... We thank You!

This morning we had our morning devotion with Tae in her room. We continue to Trust God on this journey no matter how hard it is but we have God on our side..... there is peace!

28th March - Update

Last night was a very tough night for Tae.  The back pain got worse and  when I helped her in bed this morning she pointed at one of the posters hanging next to her bed .. it says  'What Cancer Cannot DO"- by Bea Valoroso .

Cancer cannot rob me of the love of family and friends
Nor  erase the memories of love and kindness
That have accumulated over a lifetime;
It cannot take away the reality that God is
And that He rules in every situation in life,
It cannot take away the comforting presence of God's spirit-
And the certainty that He is with me, even in this suffering.
Cancer cannot blind me to God's acts of tenderness and care
Nor stop the outpouring of prayers on my behalf.
If cannot stop the power of God's Word
Nor its encouragement to my soul.
But there is one thing cancer can do
And if it be God's will, it can
usher me right into God's
presence where I shall see
Him face to face.  - Bea  Valoroso

I remember when she first got the poster on her 15th Birthday , she showed it to me and her dad and said "this is so true...and I would say the same thing too.. cancer cannot separate me from the Love of God but will Bring us together"

We love you all and thank you for the continues prayer s and support

27 March Lessons from my Daughter ...

I've been pondering for a while the opportunity to write a few things to capture a little on this part of our journey with Tae.  I asked her couple of nights ago to "stay a while ... we have a lifetime of things to do..." After a little thought, she responded "I want to go to heaven". A few weeks ago she said - "it's God's call - he either heals me or takes me home - I am ready either way"

Over the past 2 months we have accepted the real possibility that Tae is dying. Everything in us wishes for some kind of miracle that God WILL intervene and the cancer disappears but Tae's own clarity in her situation is helping us come face to face with what our faith comes down too - for a Christian, resurrection means so much more then living today - ultimately it is eternity and death is only a step in  life...

It is painful watching as she struggles with her physical symptoms - the coughing, the shortness of breath,the pains in the body, the opening on her face, the exhaustion... at the same time there is a real peace in her circumstances - she knows where she's at and who holds her now and her future. There is no question that this is one kid who knows what cancer cannot take from her and what life really means.

As a parent I almost feel it would be selfish to ask her to  stay...  she seems so certain of her rendezvous with her Saviour as she goes bounding through heavens doors in a body - perfect .... no more pain, no uncertainty, no scars, no tears....

26 March - Update

We thank you again for all the emails, comments, phone calls, prayers and support . Tae has been so strong despite the pain, constant cough, discharge from the wound below the implant, shortage of breath and the back pain. She has read your emails and comments  and she just want you all to know that she appreciate all your support and to tell you that she is okay.

We will be seeing Dr. Malani again tomorrow morning.

We continue to pray as we know only HIM knows what's best forTae and for us too. He hears our crying out for healing and Peace and I know he is asking us to just Trust Him!

Please read :TheVine: When they walk through the Valley of Weeping… They will continue to grow stronger.
Psalm 84:6-7 NLT

'ofa atu

24 March - Tae's Journal

Dear Journal,

Happy Easter!

Things have gotten a lot more difficult lately…especially now that I have my face to worry about. I feel like I’m juggling so many different things, all at the same time. I have lung cancer, asthma, back pain, head aches and other pains that come and go…and now, this had to happen as well.

I remember how hurt and angry I was, a few days ago. Waking up that morning and finding out that the skin underneath the implant had opened up just a little bit…was enough to make me cry.

It seemed like I had so much to deal with already, and just the thought of having to go through more operations and more pain - scared me. The last thing I wanted to do was to fly back to New Zealand and stay in hospital for the next couple of months.

All I want is to spend the last days of my life, being happy and comfortable…I don’t want to waste those days in hospital…forever searching for a cure. I know now, that the wound under the implant may not heal… no matter how many times the doctors may operate.

And I’m okay with that. 

I dunno why, but I continue to count my blessings. Even until now, there seems to be more good things in my life than all the pain I’ve had altogether. I guess Life will always be tough (at times), just like cancer will always have pain. But there’s always something good in every situation. God  heals us in different ways and  I  believe God has healed me  in a way that no one understand s  but He will reveal it to us in His own time.

And God will never give us something that we can’t handle.

 I had a great Easter with the family…just being at home with everyone. I also had a great time with Mota…(one of my  best friends who managed to come see me fromTonga and stayed with us for the past 2 weeks.) It helped a lot to have a friend to talk to...especially during the past few days…she was always there to keep me from worrying too much!  She went back to Tonga this morning…which was kind of sad, but I know we’ll see each other again real soon.

I’m hoping to go back to  Tonga  sometime… not sure when exactly, but I’d like to spend the last of my days in Kolomotu’a…at home with the family.         

21 April - Happy Easter

'Anaseini, Sela, Tae, 'Alisi, Haileni, Manuopea

Happy Easter everyone!  Easter Friday and Tae is up and around the house again after an early phone call with Dr Nick McIvor. She said they had a frank discussion and she accepts that the opening under the implant may not heal and she is not willing to take any steps that will lead to long stays in hospital at this point of her life. This seemed to be a turning point for her and she is keen to just enjoy each day.

Today we had a long discussion on the meaning of Easter - led by Tae before a surprise visit from 8 students from the University of South Pacific. After a lunch of Pizzas and Chinese food, they sat on the verandah and sang as Tae dozed off before singing a few songs with Joy and Mia for them.

 

Moni and the family left on Wednesday after a great week together. They are now back on the Sunshine Coast. Pic: Tae, Mia, Sione, Tala, Sione, Mota and Lisimoni

Tae and Mota in hospital - Mota leaves for Tonga on Monday back to her Form 7 studies at   Queen Salote College. Her time here has been valuable for Tae, the quiet encouragement and having a friend to share the day with.  Thanks Feleti and Aioema for letting her come!

 

20th March Update

Sometimes the journey takes a tough twist and last night Tae hit a brick wall emotionally with the continuing problems around the now open wound under the implant in her face. The discomfort of the infection in the left side of her face and the  inability to do anything about it has her extremely frustrated last night. There was little any of us could say but to simply hold her hand as she cried...   

This morning we will see Dr Malani again and a possible change in Tae's medication. We are also in contact with the Doctors in New Zealand.

We are constantly reminded of the daily challenge for Tae  dealing with a deteriorating body and still staying positive ... often there is nothing left but threads of faith and the assurance that God loves her and holds her and will remove the walls ahead .... in time. We appreciate your prayers for Tae today.

18 March - Update

We took Tae to Suva Private hospital this morning for an x-ray. She was not feeling well, so we booked to see the doctor while we were there. The doctor had a look at the sinus (groove under the implant) which started discharging under the implant and did a swab test. Then she was admitted to hospital while waited for Dr. Malani and the ENT specialist to come in and see her. But in the afternoon, Dr. Malani came in and Tae told him that she is feeling okay and she wants to come home. The concern from the doctor here, that the sinus (opening under the implant) is a little bit bigger than when it started opening up last Friday night. They are waiting to hear what the recommendations from doctors in NZ.

Tae is just happy to be back home so she can spend time with uncle Moni and her cousins, Tala, Sione and Tomasi before they go back home to Australia tomorrow.

The Tongan students from University of the South Pacific and from the Pacific Theological College visited  Tae  yesterday. It was a very special time for them and for Tae as she shared her song "Walk on Walk Strong" with them. Then she carried on talking about her plans for her funeral... with a good sense of humor.. funny and inspiring. At the end she reminded us that "the victory has been won.. just walk on.. walk strong"

We thank everyone who has been with us on this journey.
May God bless you all
'ofa atu

17 March - Update

Tae still hasn't feel well for the past couple days. Yesterday, she stayed in her room and only came out in the evening. She still experience the back pain and discomfort around the left eye and just feeling tired most times. Her friend Mota was planning to go back to Tonga today, but she is now staying for another week and leave next Monday. That makes Tae's happy to have her friend here with her for couple more days. Her cousins Tala, Sione and Tomasi are also happy to just hang around with Tae - a very special time for all of them.

Yesterday's lunch with friends and family went well. Dr. Malani was here and has arranged for Tae to do another x-ray on Tuesday.

We appreciate all the support and prayers. It is not easy these days for Tae but she still tells us "I am okay"

Click here for more pictures

'ofa atu from Suva.