More than 18 years after losing their eldest daughter Tae Kami to cancer, Taholo and Sina Kami, co-founders of WOWS Kids Fiji, say her voice, faith and determination continue to guide their work, as they hope the mission she inspired will continue long after they are gone.
Speaking on fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan, the couple reflected on their eldest daughter Tae’s cancer journey, from the first signs to her diagnosis, treatment and the legacy she left behind.
Tae's father, Taholo says his wife was the first to notice that Tae was having repeated nosebleeds and kept telling him that she believed something was wrong.
Insert: Taholo on his daughter's early stage of cancer 19th Sept
Doctors initially suspected the tumour could be cancer because it kept growing back, with specialists in New Zealand later confirming the diagnosis after further tests.
Sina says Tae herself asked whether it was cancer, and despite the diagnosis, told her mother she was not going to give up.
Taholo says the diagnosis brought some answers but also fear and uncertainty, as the family learned Tae would need major surgery with significant costs.
Taholo says he and Sina were both working for the church on church salaries at the time, and this was when the reality of what the family was facing began to hit home.
Following Tae’s death, the couple turned their grief into a mission to help other children with cancer and continue the message their daughter had left behind.
Sina says after returning following Tae’s burial, she attended a Fiji Cancer Society meeting and realised there was no specific fund dedicated to children with cancer.
She says while funds were available, the money raised was being used to support both adults and children.
Sina says she and Taholo began discussing what they could do in Tae’s memory when they returned for her first anniversary.
She says they went through Tae’s writings and belongings and realised they could use her message to start what became the Walk On, Walk Strong Fiji initiative.
The couple also held a WOWS Tonga event for Tae’s first anniversary.
Sina says they agreed to use Tae’s song and message to raise funds, with the money initially going to the Fiji Cancer Society to help children with cancer.
She says WOWS was not registered as an organisation at the time, but they were later asked to register it, leading to the establishment of WOWS Kids Fiji.
Sina says WOWS Kids Fiji now supports children with cancer, while the Fiji Cancer Society looks after adults.
She says establishing the organisation was not easy, particularly as they faced questions about why they were doing the work and whether they were doing it for their own benefit.
She says they remained focused on Tae’s dream, while support from people in Fiji helped them continue their work.
