Max has gone.😥
Max and his family needed to return to NZ from Fiji for urgent surgery. But Max has not survived the waiting.
Auckland
Sarah married Max in 2017 and moved from New Zealand to live with him on his remote Fiji island. They now have 2 young children. Max has built their home and supports them by farming and fishing.
But IN 2020 MAX BEGAN TO SUFFER HEALTH PROBLEMS. He had surgery on one eye, which helped a lot, but the work to support their family became a struggle. He was becoming weaker, and visits to the village and church activities became rare. And then in January 2021 he had to be flown by helicopter to hospital and was DIAGNOSED WITH HEART FAILURE!
Now Max's EYESIGHT IS FAILING AGAIN, too. The doctors say he NEEDS URGENT SURGERY IN AUCKLAND, NZ. If he doesn't go soon, he will lose his sight completely and then the doctors will be able to do nothing. Max would then be unable to support their family.
But if he gets to NZ in time, they can restore his sight, then also do a better examination of his heart and possibly do heart surgery!
Urgent medical cases are permitted to fly in current Covid conditions, but tickets are very expensive. Sarah is a Kiwi, so she just needs her tickets, but Max needs a visa, and both children need passports and visas.
Of course the operations are very expensive indeed! NZ$15,000 for the eye surgery; NZ$80,000 estimated for the heart surgery.
There will also be quarantine costs (which are estimated over NZ$4,000) and general living expenses.
Please can you help Sarah to get Max and their little family to NZ for this very important operation!
A huge, huge thank you from Max and Sarah to all donors!!!
Use of funds
The money will be spent on the children's passports, visas for them and Max, tickets for all four, any other travel costs, quarantine, living expenses while in NZ, and of course the medical costs.
Latest update
A final thank you. 17 March 2021
Thank you again to all you wonderful people who have supported us through this time, by sharing, by giving, and by praying.
We buried Max near our home in Votua on the island of Yasawa. I found the Fijian funeral customs to be quite expensive, plus there were the transport costs to take the coffin to the island, so I was very, very grateful to have these donated funds available to pay for it! Blessings to you all!
Now, even as we grieve, I am looking forward to our next steps, and working out how best to use the remaining funds to support myself and the children, as well as make the trip to New Zealand to visit family and friends, but a little later in the year. (If you are in New Zealand, we would love to catch up with you!)
We expect then to return to our island home to carry on with the work that Max and I began.
Once again, thank you very, very much!!!
With love and blessings,
Sarah Tuinanuya
Latest donations
Who's involved?
Page Q&A
One question has been asked already. Check it out and ask yours here.Any concerns?
Report this pageThank the donor
Your message will be displayed on the page and emailed to the donor.
Your new message will also be emailed to the donor.
Saving a blank entry will delete the current comment.