Help for Sarona

When Sarona was 26 she was diagnosed with a disease called Myasthenia Gravis which is a autoimmune, neuromuscular disease that causes weakness in the skeletal muscles. This also affects breathing and swallowing food and the moving parts of the body such as arms and legs. This disease is not cureable but manageable with the right medication. She also had an operation to get a tumour out of her chest which was benign.

She has always amazed me how positive she is. Nothing has ever stopped her from enjoying life and never once has she complained or felt sorry for herself. I would worry and complain and she would tell me off.

Sarona really wanted a baby with her husband Vern but had a bit of trouble so we were excited to hear that she was pregnant a year ago.

I was excited but scared for her as I knew there were other risks for her and the baby. It was a long 9months and she had quite a few visits to hospital but the baby was always well. The specialists wanted her to give birth naturally as c-section was risky as some drugs could of affected her disease so she had some plasma infusions and was going to be induced in May.

The week before she was booked to have the baby everything went wrong and she went to hospital because she couldn't breathe properly. The doctors were sending her home but babys heartbeat raced so high they took her to Rotorua hospital for xrays and thats when they found the mass on Sarona's chest and lung. It turned out later baby saved her life. Sarona had to go to Waikato hospital because they have bigger teams and on May 4 Pepe-Liliu Patricia Rameka was born perfect and everyone was so happy but we knew there was good or bad news coming in the next few days.

The tumour was cancerous. We were all stunned and couldn't believe this was happening. A parents worse nightmare. And Sarona said its ok we'll get through this, even though the doctors said it isn't operable or cureable my beautiful daughter still has her faith in God and her positive attitude. She is a fighter and if anyone can get through this she will.

She decided not to do chemo as they only offered her palitive chemo and said it won't save her so she is doing the natural way.

The ketogenic diet has so far kept it from spreading any further but its a long road ahead. Her myasthenia gravis got worse and she has to have a lot of rest so she hasn't been able to work or look after baby by herself.

Her husband Vern is an amazing husband and provider but they are now on one wage. Sarona didn't want me to do this page as she is very proud and doesn't and never has asked for anything. She is the one who always gives to everyone in need. I told her its her turn now to get help as many of my friends and family have told me they want to help with giving and they have told me I need to do this page so I am. She wants to get back into her work but until she is strong enough she just needs to rest. I just want Sarona to get well and have no other worrys.

We are helping as much as we can and we are coming backwards and forwards from Christchurch so she has extra help at all times. We appreciate our dear family and friends and anyone else who wants to help we are truely grateful.