Kia Kaha Kainui

Ko Gregg tõku pāpā

Ko Tash tõku māmā

Ko Te Whānau-ā-Apanui me Ngāi Tahu õku iwi

Ko Mātaatua me Uruao õku waka

Ko Maraenui me Koukourārata õku marae

Ko Hunter rāua ko Nikau õku tuākana

Ko Kennedy tõku tuahine

Ko Kainui tõku ingoa

My name is Kainui Te Ara Koopu Conning and I have Leukaemia.

Leukaemia is a cancer of the white blood cells. The type of Leukaemia I have is called B-cell acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia. (BALL). It is a cancer that originates in my bone marrow & develops quickly. No one knows why this has happened, it just has.

There’s nothing anyone could have done to change that, so now we focus on what we can do and what we can control as a whanau. The Doctors and Nurses at the Starship Children’s Hospital have many of the answers and are absolutely amazing, they are beautiful people and we are truly grateful for them.

I’m doing my best to be brave and courageous but it’s scary and unknown and there’s lots of different stuff happening. But I still be cheeky when I can be. I will be in and out of hospital and the Ronald McDonald house over the next two years with some visits home if I’m not at too much risk. Because of my medication, my body will go through lots of challenges and changes but it’s all part of my journey.

My Pāpā said I’m his super hero because every day I wake up facing my fears even when I don’t want to. I get to talk most nights on skype to my brothers and sister so we are grateful for that. I’m so lucky I have my mummy making sure everything is in order and I take my medicines when I’m supposed to. She gives me all the cuddles and kisses I need to give me power.

This is my journey, but I’m not alone I have an army of people behind me with more love than the ocean has water. Thank you for any koha given, as this will go towards making good memories along my journey for me and my whanau.

Thank you for reading my story.