Tae Kami Medical Fund

Some Pictures

It is difficult to capture the incredible support Tae has had over the past months in Fiji and Tonga other then to share a few pictures. There are so many pictures but unfortunately we are hampered by the slow Internet connections.  We will have them up soon and linked so you can browse.

1. Pic1. Kamordy, Tae & Lani
2. Pic2. The Prison Chaplin, Rev. Viliami Petelo and the Tolitoli prison string band!
3. Tautahi Rugby Team
4. Ana, Etuina, Mia and Tae

Wheel Chair Found!

Just an update on the notice below: Tae now has a Wheel Chair to use and a Lazyboy like recliner. The Rev Feleti Atiola, brought both over today from the Atiola Matriarch (Mota's Grandma) Sylvia. Tae is now moving around in the wheelchair - definite improvement from painfully hanging off our shoulders earlier today. Appreciate the emails from those of you who started the wheelchair search. Moala Sisifa also dropped a smaller wheelchair this evening that Semisi was using - cyclone Joy is now showing it off as her chair. Thank you for the support.

29th April 2008 Update...

We are having trouble with the Internet here so last nights post is a day late.

Yesterday, Moni and the family left Tonga with Don and daughter, Karmody. Tae insisted on accompanying them to the airport and was driven to the curb so she could hug them before they departed. The additional medication brought by Moni has reduced the pain significantly and allowed her to enjoy a special weekend. Tae can now only move around with strong support from someone. She is losing feeling in her legs and showed me today how she can pinch her thighs and not feel any pain. She would however trade this for the intense pain of a week ago! 

Last night, the Tautahi Gold RugbyTeam visited enmass and sang a couple of songs and brought a gift both for Tae and the Child Cancer Foundation of Tonga. The singing was inspiring and Tae was pleasantly surprised to be presented with a team jersey by Nili Latu the captain of the Tongan national team. Nili is Tae's favourite rugby player and she was wearing his national jersey which he later signed. She sang Walk on Walk Strong for them and they asked for a CD copy that they can use as their theme song before each game. They also dedicated the rest of their matches to Tae. Tautahi Gold is one of six teams (two each from , Samoa, Fiji and Tonga) competing in a Super Six Rugby Cup. She was thrilled and blessed by the visit - she kept repeating how blessed each day has been and how important that she treat each day as her very last! 

This time last week she was going through intense pain and we thought her time had come. I remember watching into the early hours of morning, thinking that I had watched her come into the world and I was going to watch her go... . Earlier the same night as the pain seemed to intensify she would ask God to take her home and even told us it was her time to go. I even wondered why God did not answer that prayer in the midst of the pain. After the last few days with so many additional visitors and friends coming to see her - she has no doubt that  is why she is still here...

Please continue to pray for us through this time - appreciate the comments, emails and messages from you all! 'ofa atu and blessings.

26 April Weekend Update

Its Sunday night and another busy weekend. Saturday we were up early to attend Grandma's sister, Ana Taumoepeaus 70th Birthday. Tae insisted of taking a ride in the vehicle and going to just kiss Ana. She ended up getting out and sitting for the special breakfast birthday and singing for Ana. She shared the song "Walk Strong" with the family and wished her a happy 70th, saying "some mornings I feel 70 years old - its a good thing".  She later asked me to take her to the Flea market and with the help of 2 friends (Aloma and her cousin) on each arm she hobbled through the flea market surprising many of the vendors and shoppers. Many came out to greet and encourage her as she walked around.

Saturday afternoon, Mona Lisa Palu and her crew of contacts arranged for a live concert to be done on our front yard. Vaka Pole'o setup his sound system and acts featured Suliasi Pole'o and several other performers singing songs, dancing and some hip hop. Tae asked to sing and soon several others insisted on singing as well. The evening was capped off by the Baker family (now the Step of Faith Choir) joining us with some of their special singing.

This morning Tae slept in and woke up to find she could barely walk... after a couple of falls, it has become obvious that she needs someone to support her. She was so upset at losing her ability to walk on her own but soon was again sitting down meeting the various people / groups that came to visit.

We finished with a family devotion with Tae thanking Uncle Moni, Leilani, Tala, Sione and Tomasi for making the trip from Australia as well as Don and Karmody Sutton. 

It is obvious that each day is special and she shared how she treats each as her last. Love and blessings from us all.

24 April Update - Medicine and Prayer

I thought I had an update late last night and surprised to find this evening that it did not go through. Yesterday Lisimoni (my Dr brother from Queensland) arrived with his3 sons, Tala, Sione and Tomasi to see Tae. She was not doing well that morning despite a better night of sleep. Moni brought new medication to supplement the heavy morphine. The medicine targeted spinal and nerve pain. By afternoon we were surprised she was sitting up and walked out to join the Bessie, Andrew and the Baker family singing "Walk on, Walk Strong " on the verandah. By today (Friday) she no longer required any quick morphine dosages and was happily talking to everyone and able to sit up in the kitchen to eat and meet outside with some visitors. Amazing the difference from 3-4 days ago.

23 April Update

Tae had another difficult night. The doctor was in well past midnight. The pain has become something she now has to live with and it seems to pick up late in the night. This morning she realized she can no longer lie on her back and has to move onto either side. She is not feeling well today but asked for various food to sample.

We have been blessed by so many people coming to share their love and sending emails and comments. Too many to thank in one go.  Queen Salote students and teachers came in again for a visit and to sing some songs for Tae. Ex-students from Tupou Tertiary Institute came -  Sina used to teach there before resigning to take care of Tae.
Sina's Aunties Mele and Vika have arrived from New Zealand with Sina's older brother, Sifa. Uncle Moni arrives from Brisbane tomorrow. Looks like the family are coming in numbers. Some friends have asked to come - and will be arriving later this week. Thanks for taking time for us whether to come or just time to pray.  We continue to pray that Tae's life inspires all - reminding us that God does have a plan for each of us, living life to the fullest and death is only a new beginning!

22 April Update - A Better Day..

What a new day brings...!

Sina and I were up most of the night with Tae - she had a fitful night with pain attacks every 15 or so minutes. By 5am she told me she thought it was time to go... She prayed with us then closed her eyes and fell into a deep sleep for the first time in almost 24 hours. After watching the struggle with the pain, it was  a real relief to see her worn out but at peace as she slept. We accepted the possibility that she may be leaving us.

Tae was up again 2 hours later and wanting to eat. The pain is still there but not to the extent of the previous day. Today she is sitting up in the bed and trying to eat whenever she can and talking with people coming into the room. Most of what she eats cannot stay down but she is in a great mood and relieved to have got through yesterday's painful experience.

Please pray for Tae through these times - we hope that she will be spared more of the intense pain.

Leilani - Tae's cousin has arrived from Brisbane.

Appreciate the thoughts and prayers

21 April Late night Update

Tae is asleep after heavy doses of morphine from Dr. Toa (who has been back twice since the last update) There are still moments when the pain is too much for Tae and I go rushing into her room and just hold her through these excruciatingly tough patches...  Parents are poorly equipped for these times -  all we can do is whisper encouragement & mumble prayers in  the midst of her agony as we feel our own hearts breaking.

Earlier in the afternoon she shared how she had prayed the night before and she is ready to "go home". I have reassured her not to worry about us... she can go knowing she's lived an incredible life and will find eternal peace  is a moment away, in the arms of her saviour.

Appreciate the love, support and prayers for Tae.

21 April - Pain...

Difficult day for Tae - the pain in the back and stomach has been intense despite her morphine dosage being doubled again today. For the first time, Tae is not holding back and her cries ring through the house...  the pain seems to come in bursts. It's been a struggle for us watching her and knowing all we can do is hold her and hope and pray for some relief. She managed to sleep a little this afternoon.  We were exhausted by lunchtime but can only imagine what she is going through...Dr Toa has been in and it looks like the treatment from now on is to scale up on the morphine...

We have been blessed to have the last 2 weeks of mainly positive days. Today is a reminder of what cancer can do and there is a sombre mood in the house as we walk with Tae through this difficult time.  How often I wish I could carry some of the pain and know that the best I can do is just hold her as she cries  and trust that the prayers of so many are being answered ...even now.

21 April - Farewell Semisi Sisifa

Semisi Sisifa passed away last night at 1am in Vaiola Hospital. Semisi has been part of our journey here in Tonga after being diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2006. Semisi visited us last Wednesday with the kids from the Child Cancer Foundation. Thank you for staying around to inspire and encourage us and raising awareness of the special challenges of cancer kids in Tonga. Semisi's mother, Moala has taken leadership of the Child Cancer Foundation of Tonga and the Sisifa's renovated Tae's room for our return.  Our prayers and thoughts are with the family as they prepare for Misi's funeral tomorrow ...heaven must be buzzing...