Healing for Mana - Fighting Cancer and LAM

Good morning all! Our page reaches its time limit on 31 March 2017, and it seems fitting that Mana has given me an update she has written, which will be the final one.

Thanks to everyone who has been involved ... bless you all. Tina xoxo

Mana says ....

There is a Samoan saying, “Ua mutia le ala,ua papa le fali”, I dare not attempt to translate for fear of failing to give these words its full credit. However, they are spoken by our orators and high chiefs to relay their gratitude to all who have come in answer at their time of sorrow or time of need. In our mother tongue, it is an expression of infinite gratitude.

My mother and I, along with my loved ones wish to express our utmost thanks to all of you who have given whole heartedly to our Give a Little plea. Your generosity and love is remembered in our prayers of praise and thanksgiving.

In the recent months, I have silently read all your loving and encouraging words, always always with tears. I apologize for the silence, it takes a lot for me to put my thoughts in writing. The overwhelming emotions I have felt throughout this journey, of pain, of sorrow, of hope, of gratitude and of love can never be fully expressed in mere words.

Several months back I was an invalid forty one year old mother, bathed in bed by her own mum, like a child, yet unlike a child. My younger sister slept on the floor next to my bed so someone could hear my breathing through the night. My three year old nephew climbed into my bed to help me greet the day or to simply be my companion. I shut the rest of the world out, my strength to physically and mentally interact with people was robbed by cancer and Morphine was my solace. My curtains were closed, always. I had half heartedly given up on life.

I have come this far by God’s grace and through the love you have shown here. Music now wafts from my room, my curtains are always open and I am dancing with my nephew. My children are laughing more, my husband too. My parents still have not stopped crying, as any grateful parents would.

My response to treatment has been hailed as excellent by my oncologist. Considering I was a borderline candidate for treatment, I personally feel like a living miracle. God be praised!

I am living on borrowed time, I know. If there is anything I have learned, it is to appreciate whatever time I am given. And I thank you from the bottom of my heart, for your love, your generosity and your humanity for giving me time…a priceless gift.

Tina, thank you for loving me, like a true sister would. For making me laugh, for holding my hand from afar, for embracing me as one of your own. I would never have been able to do this without you. I love you my darling friend.

Faafetai, faafetai, faafetai tele lava.

Thank you, thank you, thank you all.

God bless you.