Let's Awhi Tamatoa-Jay

Introducing the amazing 14 year old warrior Tamatoa-Jay. Tama sustained a catastrophic spinal injury in November 2020. Life changed forever for him and his family.

Tama has been in Starship’s intensive care unit ever since the accident and we want to help get him home! Tama is paralysed from the neck down, is ventilator dependent and requires 24/7 nursing care. The life expectancy for Tama is unknown, most people with this spinal injury are given one year to live. He has also endured a stroke, which has severely impacted his brain and it’s ability to control the various systems in his body.

This does not stop him from being an incredible, positive bright spark or from having the most amazing fighting spirit. Anyone that knows him personally, knows that he goes above and beyond his limitations to communicate with you in his own way…normally if he doesn’t want to do something or if he needs his nose scratched haha.

His smile brightens up the entire room, and warms the hearts of everyone around him. Tama is exceptionally close with his family. The bond they share is unbreakable. Never have we met such a committed and powerhouse family who have fought for their son every step of the way. They have all sacrificed so much, Tama included, to ensure they can keep making progress and help him thrive.

Tamatoas condition is palliative, and he has been given maybe a year left on this earth. They are working towards stability and discharge home. We want this transition to go as smoothly as possible. Above all, we want the family to able to continue to be a tight unit without having to worry about the financial toll this journey takes. To be able to enjoy the time they have left with Tama, and make every single moment count. The time has come to get you out of the hospital and to get you home. You can do this Tama. We love you and your whanau so much.