The Olaga Manuia o Tamaiti Trust has donated $3,384 to pay the airfares for the family of Maureen Fuimaono, an 11-year-old patient, who is heading to New Zealand tonight for medical treatment.
Maureen, from Salani Falealili, has two lumps in her stomach.
She needs to have them removed and that can only be done in New Zealand.
The operation is scheduled for 6 July 2014 at Mercy Hospital.
Maureen’s treatment will be paid for by the government’s medical scheme.
However, part of the condition requires the family to fork out for the airfares.
On Friday, the Treasurer of the Olaga Manuia Trust, Rita Tugia-Enesa, came to the rescue, presenting the cheque so they could take care of the airfares.
“Our organisation has been around for more than ten years,” said Mrs. Tugia-Enesa. “The aim of the organisation is to help the children who cannot afford the cost to be taken overseas for medical treatment.”
“We exist to help the sick children who need to be transferred overseas for medical treatment in the case where parents are not able to afford treatment.”
Maureen’s mother, Gataaga Fuimaono, is extremely grateful to the Trust. She described them as Good Samaritans who have made the load a lot lighter.
Speaking about her daughter’s condition, she said it is not easy seeing her suffer.
“Last year, Maureen developed this lump in her stomach and we took her to the hospital. She had an operation where they took out the lump and so she was fine.”
“However, this year she started having pains in her stomach and she started vomiting. She couldn’t eat anything so we went to the hospital again and did some scanning.”
“This time, the doctors found two lumps in her stomach.”
Gataaga said her daughter’s condition has since deteriorated. Making things worse, she said, is the fact that the “lumps are growing and are stuck with her uterus.”
“So the doctors here told us that they can’t do anything about my daughter’s situation because they can’t do an operation anymore on her.”
“They suggest that it would be better for her to be transferred to New Zealand.”
Maureen is the eldest of four children.
Her father, Reverend Uaine Fuimaono said, “it is not easy being a parent when you see your child go through so much suffering.”
“She is my daughter and I love her very much,” he said. “However I am worried about my daughter’s condition because it is a life threatening illness.”
“If they don’t remove these two lumps, then it will be very difficult for our daughter as she grows up.”
As a father, Rev. Fuimaono said he would do anything and everything to make sure that his daughter is healthy.
“I’m relying on this operation and also our whole family are praying for my daughter to get better.”
Rev. Uaine, Gataaga and Maureen are scheduled to depart Samoa tonight.
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