Paewhiti's Journey to Battle Cancer

On Nov 8th, after a week of back pain and eventually becoming too weak to walk, Paewhiti (Pae) was rushed to hospital.

After an MRI showed that there was a mass around his lower spine, Pae was taken to Wellington Hospital to have emergency surgery to remove parts of the mass to see what it was.

After a week awaiting results of the biopsy, doctors have confirmed that Pae has a type of bone cancer called Ewing's sarcoma.

The whānau have been presented with an option to treat this cancer in Ōtautahi/Christchurch for (at this stage) a month. Not taking this option will negatively affect the survival rate for our boy but fortunately the success rate for this treatment plan sits at around 90%. With that said, the whānau have decided to go with the treatment plan in Ōtautahi.

We (the whānau) have set up this page to reach out to our wider whānau, communities and friends to ask to donate, what you can, to assist with expenses associated with the uplift and stay in Ōtautahi for Joy, Paora and babies. However big or small, koha will be received with the utmost appreciation and love.

Although a stressful time, Joy and Paora have been brought to tears with the outpouring of love and support received so far from their whānau, friends, community members and Pae's kura Naenae Primary School. They would like to express their deep love and gratitude to all and ask that you keep Pae in your thoughts and prayers.

Love and appreciation from the Faiumu, Heurea, Te Ratana and Kohunui whānau