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Max has gone.😥

  • 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

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  • Max has gone ☹️

      7 March 2021

    Last night, Saturday, March 6, at 8:05pm, Max suffered his 4th heart attack in less than 12 hours. He did not survive it. After 15 minutes of attempting to resuscitate him, at 8:25pm the doctor declared Max dead.

    We declared Life and believed for a resurrection, but Max was tired from the battle and the pain, and he did not want to return from Heaven. And while God is very willing for Max to return to finish the race and fulfill his destiny on earth, He cannot go against the will of man. So we have let Max go, to rest with our Lord, Saviour, and Heavenly Daddy.

    Rest in perfect peace, my beloved.

    Dear friends, you have given so generously for Max's recovery. Is it still acceptable for me to use the funds as I see fit, or should I return them? We have a funeral and related expenses to pay for, and I and the children and Max's sister still need to go to New Zealand.

    In sorrow,

    Sarah Tuinanuya

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    • 08/03/2021 by Ruth

      I share with you in your sorrow, sister.

      I am very happy for you to keep the donation I made and I'm sure others will be, too.

  • Progress Update

      3 March 2021

    Thanks so much for all the giving, folks!!! We are totally amazed and blessed!

    We have submitted our application to the Overseas Referral Committee at the Ministry of Health and are waiting for them to do their part. Now we are in waiting mode.

    There is no CT scan available at all. Even the private practice's scanner is broken and waiting for a replacement part from China!

    In the meantime, the children's NZ passports are on their way to us! These are far more effective than visas for them.

    Thanks again for all your assistance at this challenging time.

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  • Medical Reports Received😀

      24 February 2021

    Hurray, we have the necessary cardiology (heart) report! Max has spent another few days in hospital.

    Max needs a CT scan of his damaged heart valve and aorta, but they will have to send him to the next town to a private facility for the scan - once his heart is in a stable condition to do so.

    If anybody has funds for an extra medical cause, the Lautoka hospital has no CT scanner. The old one died over a year ago. I don't know what cost is involved in getting a replacement.

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  • Travel Assistant for Max

      22 February 2021

    Max's condition has deteriorated. Although able to perceive some light still, he is now legally blind in both eyes. Rather than Sarah trying to manage two small children and look after Max fulltime while traveling, an assistant can be included in the medical visa. So Miri, Max's eldest sister, will be coming with us. She already does a lot of the hospital visits with Max. We couldn't do this without her!

    Miri has received help to purchase her passport, and that will be ready this week.

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  • Some Medical Reports

      22 February 2021

    We have received the ophthalmology (eye) report.😀 The cardiology (heart) report was supposed to be available for pickup this morning (Monday), but it was not. They said to come back tomorrow (Mataka, mataka!).😠

    These reports are necessary for everything to be arranged. No reports, no travel.

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  • Children's Fijian Passports Done!

      22 February 2021
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    We collected the children's Fijians passports today. 😃👍👍

    Today we sent off the application forms for the children's NZ citizenship and passports. We had to send original documents, so we couldn't do it online but had to send them by courier. Praying for a quick turnaround on that one!

    Sarah has also been able to renew her NZ passport. Amazingly quick service! That had to be done before we could apply for the children's NZ ones.

    Thank you for the help, everyone!

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  • Children's Fijian Passports

      15 February 2021

    Today we were able to apply for the children's Fijians passports. Giving thanks for the donations to enable us to get this done!

    The immigration office said the passports take a week to process. They don't inform you of their arrival (from Suva), you just return on the given date to see if they're ready.

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  • While gathering necessary documents...

      15 February 2021
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    While we wait for the Fiji doctors to produce the necessary medical reports, Max is making regular short stays in hospital to drain excess fluid. With one heart valve not working properly, fluid keeps building in his heart, lungs, and other areas, causing a lot of pain and breathlessness.

    Sarah was able to join him in Lautoka hospital's CCU (Intensive Care for heart patients) for a Valentine's Day breakfast.😊❤️

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