Sautia’s young family need our help

From the bottom of our hearts, we would like to express our deepest thanks and gratitude to everyone who has taken the time to send messages of encouragement, pray for our family, and generously donate during this incredibly difficult time. Your love, kindness, and support have meant more to us than words can express.

We wanted to share an update on the journey that has profoundly impacted our family.

On Thursday, 23 April, my husband, Sautia, was admitted to hospital after experiencing what seemed to be acute stroke symptoms. Over the following weeks, whilst battling immense head pain, he underwent numerous tests, MRIs, CT scans and ultrasounds and after almost a month of exhausting every possible medical avenue, we finally received answers.

On Tuesday, 19 May, the Haematology team at Auckland Hospital diagnosed Sautia with the rare condition Peripheral T-cell Lymphoma and Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH).

In simple terms, Tia has an aggressive blood cancer that has affected his brain, causing significant swelling and pressure. Receiving this diagnosis has been devastating for our family, but we remain hopeful and continue to place our faith in God.

We are deeply grateful for every prayer, message, donation, and act of kindness. Your support has given us strength during one of the most challenging seasons of our lives, and we carry your love with us each day.

From our family to yours, Fa'afetai tele lava - Thank you so very much!