This Is Who We Are

Petero and Anna Sanele came to Katikati with their two children as part of the Pacific quota with Immigration New Zealand. Both had paid employment when they arrived but Anna soon found out she was pregnant. High blood pressure and other complications prompted doctors to put Anna into hospital for observation where it was discovered that she had cervical cancer.

Little baby Sarah was born in Tauranga by cesarean one month early and Anna is now undergoing seven weeks radiation and chemotherapy treatment at Waikato hospital. As the hospital is an hour and half from their home in Katikati, Petero is no longer able to work while he stays in Hamilton to support his wife and look after baby Sarah. Up until this point he had been working jobs - literally day and night - to try to put aside enough money to cover their time at the hospital and even now he is using his weekends home to mow lawns etc. However, on minimum wage, even 16 hours a day has not built up enough to make it through. This means he has to find seven weeks rent plus food for his family over the treatment period.

Locals and the church family are doing what we can but more is needed. Will you "give a little"?