NO parent is ever prepared for a child’s death.
You can prepare ahead during their time of illness, but when the moment comes, the loss is incomprehensible.
No parent should ever outlive their child.
When an adult child dies, you not only lose a child, but often a close friend, a link to grandchildren, and an irreplaceable source of emotional and practical support.
If you lost your only child, you may also feel that you have lost your identity as a parent, and perhaps the possibility of grandchildren.
The opportunity to talk to parents and staff of the Walk on Walk Strong (WOWS) Kids Fiji reinforced in me a deep respect for the work they do.
The parents – for their resilience in caring for their children living with cancer and the passion of the co-founder of WOWS Fiji, Sina Kami who also lost her daughter Tae Kami to the disease in 2008.
The WOWS Kids Fiji (WKF) have ‘walked on and walked strong’ for the many grieving parents who’ve lost their children along the way and being a source of strength to those living on borrowed time.
This year alone 25 children passed away from cancer – the youngest being a two-year-old. According to the foundation, an average 20 of their children are lost every year.
The main reason being late detection.
“In any given time we work with 60-70 children, but it keeps changing. This year we had 22 new cases brought to us, but at the same time, we had 25 deaths,” describe WOWS staff member Viola Lesi.
“I can’t even fathom what the parents go through or even the doctors and the nurses who are with them in hospital. Cancer is not for adults only, it happens in children, but it’s not a death sentence. It can be cured. The parents just need to bring their children to the hospital at an early stage as possible. The earlier it is detected, the quicker the treatment can start the better chances of survival and for parents to make it their business to know the early signs of childhood cancer.
According to WOWS Fiji, the most prevalent cancer found in kids are tumours and blood cancer is known as Leukemia.
Statistics further showed around thirty new cases of cancer are recorded in children between the ages of one to thirteen years every year in Fiji.
So when an initiative is provided by donors and generous supporters for the children – the staff of WOWS Fiji makes sure the children enjoy it to the max.
About 23 children from Lautoka and Suva were treated to a day trip to Mana Island Resort and Spa this week.
The excitement and laughter of the kids were contagious.
For a moment, they forgot about their sickness as they enjoyed the swim, food, gifts and helicopter rides around the beautiful Yasawa Group.
The annual trip, which enters its third year, was hosted by Mana Island Resort and Spa, their returning visitors and father and daughter team Leigh and Kimberlie Smart – ambassadors of WOWS Fiji in Australia.
“The planning process for the trip can take a while,” describe Viola.
“So, in the beginning, we might have 30 children confirmed to come, but really on the day it would depend on the child’s health because we have some children whose blood count is too low. It’s a risk for them to come out to the island and it can be a major disappointment for them. But that’s what we deal with every day. Cancer steals their childhood, so this sort of initiative helps them being a child and being with their families and making memories. So when it’s a good day for them, we want to maximise on that and we’re thankful to the staff and management of Mana Island Resort and Spa, the Smart family and to South Sea Cruises for enabling such special trips.”
Sina Kami
For Sina Kami (co-founder of WOWS Fiji), the journey to establish the foundation is a legacy from her late daughter Tae Kami.
WOWS Kids Fiji (WKF), a non-profit Charity Foundation for children with cancer in Fiji, was established in 2014 to fulfil
the mandate of the Tae Kami Foundation in Fiji.
The Tae Kami Foundation (a registered charity in Tonga) was established in 2009 to fulfil the dreams of 15-year-old Tae Kami who died of cancer in August 2008.
Tae died leaving behind a song – Walk On Walk Strong (WOWS), and a list of dreams, including a resource room, scholarship funds and WOWS Fund to help out children with cancer in Tonga and the Pacific.
As we journeyed back on the catamaran to Denarau Island after the day trip, the mother wiped tears from her eyes as she looked back on the wisdom of her daughter to put up such a foundation.
WOWS Fiji operates on a shoestring budget, but ensures the children and their parents are supported with transportation
whether it be from the rural villages or from the outer islands, medicine, mobile recharges and even food vouchers.
“I represent the mothers who can’t speak for themselves, who can’t tell their stories,” said Sina.
“I’ve lost one child, but I’ve gained so many and what keeps me going is thinking of facing my child and say to her that we have been able to fulfil her dream. I tell you there were times that I think back and say why do I care, but it’s a different story when you walk into the (WOWS) Resource Centre and you find out there’s a new case coming in and the team would just say you know what – it’s not going to be an easy journey, but we will walk on walk strong for them.
“Thank you to the people of Fiji and the media who have been supporting us. There’s still a lot of work to be done … if we can focus on what we can do and work with the resources that we have and if we can just touch one life a day that for us is enough. And I think the most important thing from our side is the message that it’s no longer just a song, but it’s a message of hope for the parents out there, who are going through a tough time whether its physically, spiritually or financially, the message is to continue the message of walking on, walk strong.”
As we journeyed back on the South Sea Cruise ship amidst the laughter and excited chatter of the children – one of the mothers received a phone call.
A seven-year-old child who was supposed to join them for the trip, but had to be hospitalised had just passed away. Some of the mothers and caregivers sat back with a solemn thought while another hugged her child tightly.
“If we’re going to stop walking who is going to walk for them,” said the quietly spoken Sina.
